Reject water drain line installation system and apparatus for under sink reverse osmosis filter system

ABSTRACT

Reject waste water adapter coupling fitting, for use with a household undercounter reverse osmosis (R/O) water filtration installation associated with an in-counter sink with its outlet connected by standard slip fit S/J plumbing fittings to a sink drain trap plumbed to the household sewer system. The R/O reject waste water drain line is coupled into the sink drain trap by various improved adapter coupling embodiments: e.g., a ball-and-cage type back check valve in the adapter; a modified S/J branch tail piece having a special adapter fitting that is permanently joined to the inlet of the branch stem tube of the tail piece; and a standard disposal Ell with a waste water drain inlet protuberance integrally molded at the outside corner of the junction of a quarter-turn curved elbow portion with a straight sleeve portion of the Ell.

REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application is a division application of my application Ser. No.09/703,205, filed Oct. 31, 2000, now abandoned which is a divisionalapplication of application Ser. No. 09/330,797, filed Jun. 14, 1999 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,193,879B1), which in turn is a division of my priorapplication Ser. No. 08/957,517, filed Oct. 24, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,944,985, issued Aug. 31, 1999).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to dispensing systems forpotable water, and more particularly to improvements in drain lineinstallation systems and apparatus for disposing of reject water from anunder sink reverse osmosis water filter system into an existinghousehold plumbing system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reverse osmosis systems (referred to alternatively herein as “R/O”Systems) applied to the purification of water are known in the art.Their use is expanding rapidly for the production of relatively smallquantities of potable water for household uses.

Such reverse osmosis systems under normal operating conditions produce acontinuous flow of waste water, which may amount to as much as 75% ofthe input water volume, and which may have a high salt content. Thiswaste water or brine must have a continuous drainage facility forremoving this processed water from the reverse osmosis system. In thisrespect, for the safety of the system and to meet laws and ordinances oftowns and municipalities, particularly where such drainage facilitiesare connected to the sewer system, an adequate anti-syphon means isrequired to prevent the possibility of sewage or tainted water backinginto the R/O system through the drain for the waste water or brine.Generally this is in the form of a one inch or more air gap in the drainline at a point or at a specified height above the valve mountingsurface or waste water basin overflow plane for undercounterinstallation set-ups.

Typically, most kitchen counter single compartment sinks have their solebottom outlet plumbed directly to the main waste inlet of a conventionalgarbage disposer unit. Waste water from the sink flows through thegarbage disposer and exists horizontally via an outlet plumbing elbow,provided with and attached to the disposer at its lower side, whichleads through a 90° bend vertically downwardly into the upper inlet endof a standard plastic or brass tubular plumbing trap. The disposer mayalso have a dishwasher drain line connected into the upper side thereofthat feeds waste water from the dishwasher through the disposer and outof the disposer outlet.

Hitherto, a serious problem has existed with respect to undercounter R/OSystems installations, particularly retrofit installations, with respectto the manner and means for connecting the outlet end of the waste waterdrain line, downstream of the air gap, to the standard disposer drainplumbing fittings conventionally encountered in most household plumbingsystems. All plumbing codes (and most R/O manufacturer's warranties) nowprohibit the connection of R/O waste water drain line anywhere in theoutlet plumbing elbow of the disposer because of the danger of cloggingby the relatively high velocity discharge from the disposer when thesame is operated in the disposal grinding mode to grind and wash downgarbage and similar refuse. Such codes also require the R/O waste waterdrain line to be connected upstream of a suitable sewer trap. Hence inthe case of single compartment, disposer-equipped sinks there may be noalternative for the R/O System installer but to run the R/O waste waterdrain line down through the kitchen floor to a laundry sink standpipe oravailable basement or cellar floor drain. Of course, this procedure isexpensive and time consuming from the labor and material standpoint, andin some instances a suitable connection of this type may not beeconomically feasible or even available, thereby effectively preventinginstallation of the R/O System.

Even in those residential kitchen sink installations which are providedwith a double compartment sink, certain installation problems remain. Insuch double sink installations one of the sinks or sink compartmentscarries the garbage disposer, and the other, non-disposer sink, has itswaste water outlet connected via standard plumbing fittings, whichincludes a horizontal outlet run leading into a conventional baffleTee-fitting connected between the disposer elbow and sink drain trap.This disposer Tee has an interior baffle which operates to divert thedownward discharge from the disposer elbow away from and past theTee-inlet connected to the non-disposer sink plumbing. Plumbing codespermit the R/O waste water drain line connection to enter suchnon-disposer sink waste plumbing upstream of the disposer baffle Teebecause of the isolation provided by its interior baffle. Accordingly,commercially available R/O System installation equipment often includesconventional drain saddle hardware fittings, i.e., split clamp straps,mounting fasteners and an associated drain saddle elbow for making thiswaste water drain connection to such existing plumbing fittings.However, this requires that a suitable hole be drilled into either thevertical or horizontal run of the non-disposer sink outlet plumbingfittings, and the drain saddle clamp fitting registered and clamped tocommunicate the elbow with the drilled hole.

Although kitchen double compartment sinks thus can legally accommodateconnection of the R/O waste water drain line in the immediate vicinityof the undercounter R/O System installation, all state and localplumbing codes now prohibit the use of saddle-type valves and/or drainconnections. (See article entitled “Drain Saddle Controversy SpawnsAlternatives” and subtitled “Will innovations resolve an old problem?”)by Dennis Bowman on pp. 34 and 36 of the July, 1995 issue of WaterTechnology (Volume 18, No. 7). Hence in such states, even with a doublecompartment sink plumbing arrangement incorporating a disposer baffleTee, the R/O waste water drain line outlet again must be run from underthe kitchen counter to the basement or some other area having astandpipe or drain arranged to feed into a suitable entry point to thehousehold sewer system, such as the aforementioned laundry sinkstandpipe or basement floor drain. Such waste water drain lineconnection problems have seriously impeded or prevented retrofitinstallations of R/O filter systems in existing dwelling structures,particularly in older residences and in well developed older communitiessupplied with municipal water, where such R/O water filter systems areparticularly needed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved R/O waste water drain line outlet connection system and adaptercoupling hardware which overcomes the aforementioned problems in asimple, efficient, reliable and economical manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improveddrainage system and improved adapter coupling fittings for safely andreadily coupling the R/O waste water drain line to existing householdsingle sink disposer outlet plumbing in the immediate vicinity of theundercounter R/O filter system installation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive plumbing adapter coupling fitting improvement for connectingthe waste water drain line to the existing undercounter single or doublesink plumbing, whether or not equipped with a garbage disposer, andwhich is easy to install and highly compatible with existing inexpensiveplastic or brass tubular slip joint (S/J) undercounter type plumbingfittings as well as with heavier duty Schedule 40 plastic, steel or castiron plumbing of conventional design and standardized, code-approvedconstruction.

A further object of the present invention is provide an improved wastewater drain line outlet adapter coupling fitting of the foregoingcharacter which can be either preassembled or readily assembled anddisassembled on site with no tools.

Still further objects are to provide improved waste water drain systemsand associated improved adapter coupling fittings in various formsembodying common features for use either with the aforementioned R/Owater filtrations systems or with other water treatment applianceshaving like bypass or backwash outlet drain tubing requirements, andwherein the improved fittings are (1) quick and easy to install andremove; (2) reliable and (3) quiet in operation; (4) inexpensive tomanufacture; (5) have a long and useful service life; (6) are fullycompatible with standard commercially available undercounter tubular orheavy wall Schedule 40 plumbing, and (7) are readily convertible to aform that provides air gap anti-siphon operation in an improved manner.

Another object is to provide an improved method of easily and quicklyinstalling the aforementioned improved adapter coupling fittings invarious conventional and existing household and commercial drainplumbing hook-ups to readily convert the same to thereby provideimproved R/O and/or other waste, bypass, or back flush liquid drainagesystems, such as residential and commercial softeners and waterdistillers with automatic backwash operation and commercial R/O systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, appended claimsand accompanying drawings (which are drawn to scale unless otherwiseindicated), in the several figures of which like reference numeralsidentify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a typical household singlecompartment sink kitchen counter installation shown prior to theinstallation of the R/O filter system adapter fitting improvements ofthe present invention and having a conventional garbage disposerinstalled therebeneath, a dishwasher drain line being connected to thedisposer upper side inlet and the disposal outlet elbow connected via aconventional trap to a horizontal waste line.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of the single sink anddisposer equipment of FIG. 1 after installation of an R/O systemincorporating a first embodiment of the waste water outlet couplingsystem and adapter apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational and part center-sectionalview of the first embodiment of the waste water adapter couplingimprovement of the present invention as utilized in the system of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of a waste water adapter couplingimprovement of the present invention alternately usable in theinstallation of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a second embodiment of thewaste water drain system for the single sink/disposer set-up of FIG. 1utilizing the first embodiment adapter coupling of FIGS. 2 and 3assembled in an alternate manner as a third embodiment coupling for usein the second embodiment system.

FIG. 6 is a third embodiment system employing a fourth embodimentadapter coupling of the invention applied to the single sink/disposerset-up of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fourth embodiment connection system employing a fifthembodiment adapter coupling of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a double compartment sinkkitchen counter set-up with a disposer carried by one sink compartmentand the non-disposer sink compartment drain plumbing coupled to thedisposer outlet plumbing and having a sixth embodiment adapter couplingof the present invention connected into the non-disposer drain line andserving as the R/O waste water drain connection.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the circled portion of theset up of FIG. 8 illustrating a sixth embodiment system connectionutilizing the sixth adapter coupling embodiment of FIG. 8 reoriented forthe waste water drain connection.

FIG. 10 is a seventh embodiment adapter coupling alternatively usable inthe system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is an eighth embodiment adapter coupling alternatively usable inthe systems of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a presently preferred ninth embodiment ofthe waste water adapter coupling improvement of the present inventionalternatively usable in the system of FIGS. 2, 5, 8 or 9.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the adapter coupling of FIG. 12.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively vertical and horizontal cross-sectionalviews taken respectively on the lines 14—14 and 15—15 of FIGS. 12 and13.

FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are fragmentary perspective exploded viewsillustrating sequential installation procedural steps utilized ininstalling the adapter coupling of FIGS. 12-15 in a system correspondingto that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the completed installationfollowing the procedure of FIGS. 16-20.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the portion ofthe completed installation of FIG. 21 encompassed by circle A of FIG.21.

FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 are fragmentary center sectional views illustratingthe use and operation of the standard commercially available quickconnect/disconnect slip fit/push-in connector preferably provided as anintegral part of the adapter coupling of the invention and preferablyused in all embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and 29 are fragmentary perspective views illustratingsequential installation procedural steps for installing the ninthembodiment adapter of FIGS. 12-15 in a double compartment sinkinstallation corresponding to that of FIG. 8.

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary elevational view of the completed doublecompartment sink installation following the steps of FIGS. 26-29.

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustratinginstallation procedure steps utilized in installing the ninth embodimentadapter coupling to a single compartment sink without disposal andcorresponding to the installation of FIG. 9.

FIG. 32 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tenth embodiment adaptercoupling of the invention provided for use with commercial (e.g.,restaurant) applications but shown installed in FIG. 32 in theundercounter tubular plumbing fitting of FIG. 22.

FIG. 33 is a part elevational, part vertical center cross-sectional viewof the tenth embodiment coupling adapter installed on a standard trapadapter commercial-type (i.e., Schedule 40) plumbing fitting forcoupling to larger-diameter, drain line plumbing.

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the coupling ofFIG. 33 mounted on a trapped standpipe plumbed to a vertical drain pipeline.

FIG. 35 is a semi-diagrammatical elevation view of the tenth embodimentadapter coupling mounted on a standpipe that empties intocommercial-type floor drain.

FIG. 36 is a part elevational and part center sectional view of aneleventh embodiment adapter coupling of the invention provided with anair gap structure and also intended for use with residential andcommercial applications.

FIG. 37 is a view similar to that of FIG. 36 but showing the adaptercoupling of FIG. 36 but rotated therefrom 180° about a vertical axis,and with a portion broken away to illustrate interior detail.

FIGS. 38 and 39 are vertical cross-sectional views taken respectively onthe lines 38—38 of FIG. 36 and 39—39 of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the tenth embodiment adaptercoupling as shown in FIG. 32 with tube 76 shown in phantom and thecollet, cap collar and O-ring of the quick connect fitting partsomitted.

FIG. 41 is a cross sectional view taken on line 41—41 of FIG. 42 andshowing a modified tenth embodiment coupling dimensioned to receive thelarger diameter ½ inch O.D. tubing, with the associated larger diametercollet, cap collar and O-ring again not being shown.

FIG. 42 is a bottom plan view of the coupling shown in FIG. 41.

FIGS. 43 and 44 are end and center sectional views respectively of aJACO® ferrule nut with integral sleeve.

FIG. 45 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 41but showing another modification of the tenth embodiment couplingadapted to threadably receive the ferrule nut of FIGS. 43 and 44 forslip fit and compression quick connection of ⅝ inch O.D. tubing in themanner of JACO® tube fittings, or other similar compression fittings.

FIG. 46 is a center sectional view of a JACO® ferrule nut with a plasticgripper sleeve

FIG. 47 is a part section and part elevational view of a JACO® tubinginsert, also for use with the coupling of FIGS. 43-46.

FIGS. 48 and 49 are perspective and vertical cross sectional viewsrespectively of still another modification of the tenth embodimentcoupling provided with an integral hose barb male fitting for slip-onfit coupling of a ½ inch or a ⅝ inch I.D. waste water drain house.

FIG. 50 is a vertical center sectional view of a twelfth embodimentadapter coupling of the invention provided with a ball-and-cage typeball check valve.

FIG. 51 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 51—51 of FIG. 50

FIGS. 52 and 53 are vertical cross sectional and bottom plan viewsrespectively of the ball-and-cage used in the coupling of FIG. 50 butshown by themselves.

FIG. 53A is fragmentary cross sectional view based on FIG. 22 butshowing a modified twelfth embodiment coupling.

FIGS. 53B and 53C are part vertical section and part elevational viewsbased on FIGS. 37 and 38 respectively but showing a further modificationof the twelfth embodiment coupling applied to the air gap adaptercoupling of the eleventh embodiment.

FIGS. 53D and 53E are cross sectional views taken respectively on thelines 53D—53D and 53E—53E of FIG. 53C.

FIGS. 53F, 53G and 53H are sectional views showing a still furthermodification of the twelfth embodiment coupling FIG. 53F being avertical center section and FIGS. 53G and 53H being sections on thelines 53G—53G and 53H—53H respectively of FIG. 53G.

FIG. 54 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a thirteenthembodiment adapter coupling of the invention usable in the manner of abranch tail piece plumbing fitting for slip fit quick connect couplingto a R/O waste water drain line also in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 55, 56 and 57 are fragmentary, exploded (FIGS. 55 and 56) centersectional views of a modification of the thirteenth embodiment couplingwith an outside sleeve plug-type fitting dimensioned respectively forreceiving JOHN GUEST® fitting parts of three different sizes; i.e., ¼inch (FIG. 55); ⅜ inch (FIG. 56); and ½ inch (FIG. 57): the sleeve inFIG. 57 being shown substantially fully assembled on the branch tube ofthe branch tail piece.

FIGS. 58, 59 and 60 are fragmentary cross sectional views illustratingstill another modification of the thirteenth embodiment couplingemploying an inside plug fitting without sleeve also constructed forreceiving JOHN GUEST® collet and cap collar parts therein, againrespectively in the ¼ inch (FIG. 58), ⅜ inch (FIG. 59) and ½ inch (FIG.60) sizes.

FIG. 61 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to that of FIG. 9 butillustrating the thirteenth embodiment coupling installed in place ofthe sixth adapter coupling embodiment of FIG. 8 and serving as the R/Owaste water drain connection also in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 62, 63 and 64 are simplified views of three commercial forms ofbranch tail piece plumbing fittings usable in constructing thethirteenth embodiment coupling of FIGS. 54-61.

FIG. 65 is a fragmentary part vertical elevation, part verticalsectional view of a fourteenth embodiment adapter coupling of theinvention provided as a modification of a standard disposer ELL plumbingfitting and shown without the associated JOHN GUEST® collet and capcollar that are permanently mounted therein.

FIG. 66 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the adapter coupling ofFIG. 65 with a portion broken away to show detail.

FIG. 67 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the lines 67—67of FIG. 65.

FIG. 68 is a simplified fragmentary elevational view of the single sink,disposer and dishwasher drain line hookup of FIGS. 5 and 6 illustratingthe fourteenth embodiment coupling installed as the substitute R/O wastewater drain line in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 69 is an exploded perspective view of a fifteenth embodiment drainline adapter coupling plug or closure assembly with a standard S/Jbaffle Tee fitting, also in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 70 is a fragmentary perspective view of the S/J closure plugsubassembly of FIG. 69 as installed in the system set up of FIG. 21 inplace of the drain line adapter coupling 600 shown therein.

FIGS. 71, 72 and 73 are respectively top plan, center sectional andbottom plan views of the closure plug of the assemblies of FIGS. 69 and70 shown by itself, FIG. 72 being a sectional view taken on the line72—72 of FIG. 73.

FIG. 74 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 74—74 ofFIG. 70.

FIGS. 75 and 76 are respectively exploded and assembly views of thethree-way S/J Tee of FIGS. 8 or 9 shown by itself and illustrating theassembly of the fifteenth embodiment drain line adapter coupling plugand associated S/J nut and S/J washer onto the side or Tee inlet of thethree-way Tee, the view of FIG. 75 not being to scale.

FIG. 77 is a part vertical section, part vertical elevational view of amodification of the fifteenth embodiment drain line adapter couplingplug and shown assembled on the inlet end of a male standard trapadapter fitting of FIG. 34; and

FIG. 78 is a part vertical section, part vertical elevation view of afurther modification of the fifteenth embodiment drain line adaptercoupling plug also shown assembled on the trap adapter fitting of FIG.34.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment WasteDrain System and Coupling

Referring first to FIG. 1, a typical residential kitchen counter singlecompartment sink installation is illustrated prior to retrofitinstallation of an R/O system in accordance with the present invention.Such a single sink set-up includes a single compartment sink 20 mountedthrough a suitable opening in a kitchen counter 22, and an associatedconventional water dispensing faucet 24 (herein illustrated as a singlelever hot and cold water mixing faucet). A conventional garbage disposer26 is suspended in the usual manner from sink 20 with its upper maininlet in communication with the single sink waste outlet 28. Anundercounter automatic dishwasher unit (not shown) has its dishwaterdrain line 30 connected to the upper side inlet fitting 32 of disposer26. The outlet 34 of disposer 26 is coupled to a disposer elbow 36 by aflange clamp 38 and associated mounted bolts 40, the connection beingsealed by a disposer drain gasket 42. The vertical run 44 of elbow 36 istypically connected to a conventional sink trap 46 by a slip joint nut48 and associated slip joint beveled washer (not shown). The outlet endof trap 46 is similarly connected by a slip joint nut 50 to the elbow 52of a horizontal waste line 54 leading to the main sewer drain of thehousehold. Typically the garbage disposer installation instructionsrequire that the disposer waste line 54 and associated trap 46 beplumbed at the appropriate elevation to prevent standing water in thedisposer motor housing 56.

It is to be noted that the single sink/disposer installation of FIG. 1cannot accept a waste water drain connection from an R/O filter systembecause there is no place to connect the drain saddle provided with sucha system to the disposer waste line. The saddle cannot be connected tothe horizontal waste line 54 since it is downstream of trap 46, nor canit be connected to the elbow 36 without voiding the systemmanufacturer's warranty and violating the laws and plumbing codeordinances (plumbing codes or Uniform Plumbing Code) of substantiallyall towns and municipalities. Hence the R/O waste water drain linehitherto had to be run through a hole drilled in the kitchen floor to abasement laundry sink standpipe or to closest available basement orcellar floor drain. If such drains were not available or accessible thiscondition has in most instances forestalled installation of the desiredR/O filter system. Moreover, even if such remote drain connections wereavailable, the cost of running the waste water drain line to the sameoften was uneconomic and/or created maintenance problems due to theexcessive length and small diameter of such waste water tubingincreasing the risk of clogging.

However in accordance with a principle feature of the present invention,a conventional R/O filter system designed for undercounter installationnow can be easily and inexpensively installed in such a singlesink/disposer set-up so as to utilize the disposer waste drain line toreceive the reject waste water from the R/O system. Referring to FIG. 2,the single sink/disposer kitchen counter installation of FIG. 1 is shownin conjunction with the installation of a typical commercially availablereverse osmosis drinking water appliance (illustrated diagrammatically).Such a commercial residential R/O drinking water appliance preferably isthat made by Water Factory Systems (a unit of Commercial Intertech) ofIrvine, Calif., Series N4000, N4500 or N5000, and typically includes apurification assembly 60, a storage tank 62, and a filtered waterdispensing faucet and air gap module assembly 64. Unfiltered potablewater is supplied to the system via a tubing connector 65 connected tothe existing cold water supply line 66 which is usually run adjacent tothe household hot water supply line 68. Fully filtered product water isdelivered from the R/O system via a tubing connector 70 connected to thedispensing faucet assembly 64. The R/O system reject waste water isconducted by a tube 72 leading up to the vertical spout 74 of the airgap assembly included in faucet assembly 64. This R/O waste water isthen returned from the air gap assembly via the R/O waste water drainline tubing 76 to a waste water drain coupling 100 provided inaccordance with the present invention.

As best seen in FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, coupling 100 is madeup almost entirely of inexpensive, commercially available slipjoint(S/J) type tubular plastic (or brass) plumbing fitting currently massproduced for the household residential as well as commercial market bysuch companies as Dearborn Brass, Plumbing Wholesale Division of 21 stCentury Companies, Inc., of Tyler, Texas, and Brass Craft of Southfield,Michigan. Thus, the primary component of coupling 100 is a standardcommercially available plumbing fitting known as a “baffle Tee” 102(e.g., Dearborn Plastic Baffle Tee Part No. 9185, “1½″ End Outlet SlipJoint”). Baffle tee 102 is injected molded from polypropylene material(PP) and has an external flange 104 at its upper end provided withexternal threads 106 for threadably receiving the internal threads 108of a standard slip joint nut 110 (e.g., Dearborn Brass Part No. 9001, 1½ “Slip Joint Nut”).

Tee 102 has an upper side inlet in the form a tubular projection 112provided with external threads 114 to threadably receiving a second S/Jnut 116 identical to nut 110. Tee 102 is also provided with a standardinterior baffle 118 to divert the incoming garbage disposal liquid wasteproducts, entering via inlet 112 into the main throughbore 120 offitting 102, downwardly in the main flow direction of the fitting asindicated by the flow direction arrow 122 provided on the exterior ofthe fitting. In the normal use intended for Tee 102, another standardS/J type plumbing fitting, such as a sink tail piece, would have itsunflanged, “tail-end” outlet inserted into the upper end inlet portion123 of bore 120. Baffle 118 is normally intended to also divert incomingliquid flow entering from the outlet of such an associated S/J tubularconduit away from the liquid flow entering via inlet 112, the two inputflows merging downstream of the lower end 124 of baffle 118. Suchstandardized baffle tees are required by the Uniform Plumbing Code whenthe outlet fitting(s) from the garbage disposer is to be tee-connectedin parallel to another sanitary waste line upstream of the trap 46 ofthe under-sink plumbing system.

Coupling 100 also includes a drain elbow such as another standard andreadily available part, namely, a drain elbow 126 customarily providedwith the commercially available reverse osmosis drinking water applianceequipment. Elbow 126 has an external (male) national pipe thread 128provided at its outlet nipple end. Fitting 126 preferably is alsoprovided (by the R/O appliance manufacturer) with a “Push-In” connector130 which includes a push-in catch and release collet 132 and associatedO-ring seal 133 (shown in FIGS. 14, 22-25 and 32) for quickly andreleasably attaching the outlet end of the R/O waste water drain tube76.

Referring to FIG. 2, Tee 102 also has a reduced diameter sleeve portion134 designed as a “slip-end” in accordance with industry standards forslip feeding through the S/J nut 48 (and a customarily associated S/Jbeveled washer) of the trap fitting 46 or other S/J plastic or brasstubular plumbing fittings of the same nominal diameter rating. Tee 102also has a chamfer 136 (FIG. 3) at its upper inlet end designed tocooperate with a standard slip joint (S/J) beveled polyethylene washer W(shown in FIGS. 20 and 22). Such a S/J beveled washer is adapted to beclamped between the ID lip 138 of S/J nut 110 and chamfer 136 as the nutis threaded downwardly on external threads 106 of Tee 102 to therebysqueeze inner periphery of the washer against the mating tail sleeve ofanother S/J plumbing, such as the aforementioned sink tail piece,fitting inserted into the upper end of Tee 102. However, such an S/Jbeveled washer is preferably not used in coupling 100 of the inventionwhen constructed as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In accordance with a principle feature of the first coupling embodimentof the present invention, the foregoing commercially availableinexpensive plumbing fittings, namely Tee 102, S/J nut 110 and saddledrain elbow 126, are converted for use in R/O waste water drain coupling100 by providing in combination therewith only one custom madeadditional part, namely an adapter part in the form of an elbow fittingclosure plate 140 (FIG. 3). Plate 140 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 ispreferably in the form of an imperforate thin, flat, circular disc madeof a suitable, durable rigid material such as brass or plastic (such asPVC, PP or “Plexiglas” plastic material) having an outside diameteradapted to be received with a close sliding fit within the S/J nutintegral threads 108. Plate 140 preferably is also provided with anintegral central boss 142 projecting vertically downwardly from thelower (fitting-interior) surface of plate 140 and provided with athrough-bore having internal pipe threads 144 for threadably andsealably receiving the male pipe threads 128 of the nipple end of elbow126. Although boss could project upwardly from the upper surface plate140, the interior orientation of boss 142 is preferred in order toprovide as much vertical clearance space as possible between elbow 126and waste line 30.

Alternatively, closure plate 140 may constitute a simple flat circulardisc (not shown) having an unthreaded center opening for slidablyreceiving elbow-nipple threads 128 therethrough. Elbow 126 and plate 140in this alternative are removably secured together by standard hex-nuts(not shown) threaded on threads 128, one above and one below the disc,along with a suitable washer(s) (not shown) for sealing thisdisc-elbow-subassembly. However, such an alternative is not preferredsince it probably would not meet most plumbing codes.

Plate 140 is sealed liquid tight on the upper end of Tee 102 by placinga suitable conventional thin flat rubber washer 146, properlysize-rated, between plate 140 and the upper end of Tee 102. Screwing S/Jnut 110 downwardly on Tee 102 will squeeze washer 146 between plate 140and the flat upper end surface 150 of Tee 102. It is to be noted thatthe standard slip joint beveled washer (not shown, described above)should not be used in place of the flat washer 146 in the constructionshown in FIG. 3 because there is no tail sleeve surface present incoupling 100 for it to compress against. Such an S/J beveled washerwould also diminish the threaded overlap engagement of nut 110 withthreads 106 by more than the thickness of washer 146.

The manner of retrofit installation of the R/O reject water conversionkit of the invention, in the case of a single compartment sink equippedwith a disposer, is best seen by comparing the respective “before” and“after” FIGS. 1 and 2. The various components and tubing connections ofthe commercially available R/O system are installed as described inconjunction with FIG. 2 by following the manufacturer's installationliterature instructions, except for the outlet connection of the wastewater drain tube 76. The installer then performs the following steps:

1. Remove disposer elbow 36 by first removing bolts 40 and decouplingclamp 38, and then loosen S/J nut 48 so that disposer elbow 36 can beslid upwardly and outward of trap 46.

2. Swing trap 46 away from disposer 26 (loosening its other S/J nut 149,if necessary) to provide additional working clearance, and then insertthe tail piece 134 of the disposer Tee 102 through S/J nut 46 into theupper end of trap 46.

3. Utilizing a proper diameter standard sink tail piece 154 (e.g.,Dearborn Plastic Part No. 9799, 4 inch; 9800, 6 inch; 9801, 8 inch; or9803, 12 inch), install a new disposer drain gasket 42 on the flangedend of tail piece 154 by pressing the inside slot of the gasket over theflange, evenly seated, so that the thick end of the gasket 42 facesdisposer 26 and the gasket release end faces Tee 102.

4. Temporarily hold the flanged end of tail piece 154 against thedisposal drain outlet and the other, slip end adjacent the disposal Teeinlet 112, mark for cut-off length, and then cut the slip end of thetail piece to the appropriate length for insertion into Tee inlet 112.

5. With tail piece 154 so cut to appropriate length, install the flangedend of tail piece 154 onto the disposer outlet 34 using the originalmounting clamp 38 and bolts 40.

6. Then swing trap 46 with Tee 102 thereon towards disposer 26 until theTee inlet 112 telescopically receives the slip end of tail piece 154 andfirmly seats thereover.

7. Then tighten the disposal clamp bolts 40 and the S/J nut 116 tofirmly clamp and seal tail piece 154, and tighten S/J nut 48 to firmlysecure and seal lower slip end 134 of Tee 102 in tap 46. Check andre-tighten S/J nut 49.

8. Next, position washer 146 on the upper end of Tee 102, sub-assembleclosure plate 140 and S/J nut 110 as shown in FIG. 3, and thensub-assemble elbow 126 by screwing elbow nipple thread 128 into threads144 of plate boss 142 until firmly seated (after suitably doping thethreads with pipe sealant); then plate closure plate-nut-elbowsubassembly 110-126-140 on washer 146 and orient tube 76 in the desiredangle or direction (normally toward the faucet assembly 64); and thentighten S/J nut 110 to firmly secure and seal closure 140 on Tee 102.

9. Install outlet end of tube 76 into push-in connector 130 of elbow126.

With coupling 100 of the invention so installed on the singlesink/disposer set-up system of FIG. 2, and assuming the other setup andcheck out procedure normally associated with the reverse osmosisdrinking water appliance equipment has been completed, the system ofFIG. 2 is now ready for operation. The reject water from the reverseosmosis filter system will flow via tube 76 down through fitting 126into the upper end of Tee 102 and then downwardly to trap 46 fordisposal into the household sewer system. Normal water drainage fromsink 20 as well as garbage disposal refuse forcibly ejected via theoutlet of disposer 26 will enter Tee 102 via inlet 112 and be diverteddownwardly by the baffle 118. Tee baffle 118 thus ensures functionalisolation of the garbage disposer outlet flow from the waste water drainflow. In addition, the position of elbow 126 above disposer outlet 34 byits mounting on the upper end of Tee 102 further isolates the two flowsand helps to further prevent contamination of the waste water fitting126 and tube 76. Coupling 100 of the invention thus is designed tosatisfy the Uniform Plumbing Code for waste drain liquid systemsarranged in parallel waste flow with disposer 26.

Second Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment coupling 200 of the invention ascomprising a modified baffle Tee 202 which may be made identical to Tee102 except for the upper end adapter structure of the Tee. The upper endof the main cylindrical wall 204 of Tee 202 is joined integrally by afrusto conical wall 206 to a flat, transverse end closure wall 208. Aprotruding boss 210 is integrally formed centrally of wall 208,preferably, like boss 142, extending downwardly from the interiorsurface of wall 208. Boss 210 has a through-opening 211 internallythreaded with pipe threads 144 to threadably receive the nipple end ofdrain elbow 126 in the manner of the coupling 100. The modified baffleTee 202 of coupling 200 thus is a custom-made plumbing fitting intendedfor use as an alternate to coupling 100 when connecting the R/O wastewater drain line 76 to a single compartment sink/disposer installationin the manner of FIGS. 1 and 2. Tee 202 may be readily mass producedinitially in two parts from plastic by injection molding one part as themain body of the baffle Tee (with inlet 112 and baffle 118) so that itsupper end terminates at a joint line 212, and the closure made as theother part comprising the conical wall 206, end wall 208 and boss 210.These two piece parts are then subsequently permanently joined at joint212 by any suitable means such as adhesive, ultrasonic welding, etc. Dueto the initial molding and assembly tooling costs, modified baffle Tee202 of coupling 200, if produced in low quantities is more expensivethan coupling 100 but is cost effective in high volume because itsimplifies somewhat the assembly task of the installer because iteliminates the cost of washer 146 and the S/J nut 110 and their assemblytime.

Second Embodiment Waste Drain System and Third Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a waste water drain hook-upsystem and a modified third embodiment coupling 220 which uses the samecomponents as coupling 100 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Coupling 220 is preferablyutilized in those installations where trap 46 is or may be positioned ata lower elevation relative to disposer 26 than that illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2. If this possibility exists in a given undercounter installationset-up, then installation can be further simplified because disposerelbow 36 need not be removed and replaced by tail piece 154 asprescribed in the installation of coupling 100. Instead coupling 220uses baffle Tee 102 re-connected to receive the lower slip end of elbow36 through its upper end inlet portion 123, and is secured thereto byS/J nut 110 and an associated S/J beveled washer. The slip end sleeve134 of Tee 102 is inserted into the upper end of trap 46 and securedtherein by tightening S/J nut 48. Then R/O waste water tube 76 andassociated drain elbow 126 can be interconnected into the drainagesystem by utilizing the side inlet 112 of Tee 102 and associated S/J nut116. The orientation of Tee 102 in coupling 220 is thus rotated 180°relative to disposer from its orientation in coupling 100. Howeverinterior baffle 118 still functions to isolate the incoming disposerwaste coming down from elbow 36 into Tee 102 from the waste waterentering inlet 112 from tube 76 in accordance with the Uniform PlumbingCode. In those situations where trap 46 is disposed at an even lowerelevation than that illustrated in FIG. 5 relative to disposer 26, anextension tail piece may be plumbed to Tee slip 134 and connected to theinlet of trap 46 in accordance with conventional slip joint plumbingfitting practice. In either instance, the installation of coupling 220is simpler than that of coupling 100 since disposer elbow 36 need not bedismantled and replaced by tail piece 54. However, subsequent to thefiling of parent application Ser. No. 08/514,871, it has been found thatthe installation location of coupling 200 as shown in FIG. 5 maynevertheless clog up in use and therefore is to be avoided if at allpossible.

Third Embodiment Waste Drain System and Fourth Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a waste water draininstallation system for a single compartment sink/disposer set-up forthose installations where trap 46 can be disposed at the elevationindicated in FIG. 5 relative to disposer 26. Disposer baffle Tee 102 isassembled to drain 46 and disposer elbow 36 in the same manner as theFIG. 5 installation. However the waste water drain tube 76 outlet isconnected at a substantially higher elevation into the waste line byutilizing a fourth embodiment coupling 230 of the invention made up of astandard quarter bend plumbing fitting 232 (e.g., Dearborn Plastic No.9006), and a standard extended tail piece 233 (i.e., having a threadedinstead of flanged end; e.g., Dearborn Plastic Part No. 9792). The slipend of fitting 232 is inserted into the S/J nut 116 and side inlet 112of Tee 102 so as to extend horizontally from Tee 102. The quarter bendportion of fitting 230 is oriented upright to receive the slip end oftail piece 233 and its S/J nut 234 is tightened thereon to support tailpiece 233 upright as illustrated in FIG. 6. The upper end of tail piece233 is provided with slip joint nut 110 and associated closure piece140, washer 146 and elbow 126 in the same manner as there parts areassembled to the upper end of baffle Tee 102 in FIG. 3.

With the system of FIG. 6 the garbage refuse and waste forcelydischarged from disposer outlet elbow 36 is isolated from the R/O wastewater drain water by baffle 118 of Tee 102 as well as by the separationand standpipe effect of fittings 232 and 233 to thereby further protectwaste water tube 76 from clogging and contamination.

It is also to be understood that such standpipe isolation can beincorporated into the coupling 100 and system of FIG. 2 by inserting atail piece 232 into the upper end of Tee 102, with elbow 126 and closureplate 140 and washer 146 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) assembled to thetail piece threaded upper end as in FIG. 6, instead of coupling elbow126 directly to the upper end of fitting 102.

Fourth Embodiment Waste Drain System and Fifth Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a single compartmentsink/garbage disposer R/O waste water drain installation set-up inaccordance with the present invention, for use in those jurisdictionswhich permit the use of saddle-type drain connections under theirplumbing codes for connection of waste water drain lines upstream ofcode approved sink drain traps. The system of FIG. 7 utilizes tail piece154 connected to the disposer outlet along with a baffle Tee 102 coupledto the upper end of trap 46 in the manner of FIG. 2. However, the upperend of Tee 102 is left open and the slip end of a standard extended tailpiece 250 is inserted into the upper end inlet portion 123 of fitting102 (see FIG. 3) and secured therein in a sealed manner by the S/J nut110 and associated slip joint bevel washer (described previously, notshown). An appropriate hole is drilled in the side of tail piece 250near the upper end thereof, and the saddle drain clamp 252, customarilyprovided with the R/O system appliances is clamped about tail piece 250with the outlet of the clamp 252 registered with the drilled hole intail piece 250. The saddle elbow 126 is threaded into the socket ofclamp 252 and tube 76 inserted in the push-in coupling 130, providedwith elbow 126.

The normally open upper end of tail piece 250 in accordance with thepresent invention, is closed and sealed liquid and gas tight byproviding a modified closure plate (not shown) which, like closure 140,is a thin, flat rigid circular disc made of brass or Plexiglas butwithout the center opening 144 or mounting boss 142 of plate 140. Thisclosure disc plate is mounted between a washer (identical to washer 146of FIG. 3) and an S/J nut 254 (identical to nut 110) in the manner inwhich closure plate 140 is mounted on Tee 102 in FIG. 3. Theinstallation of FIG. 7 thus meets the Uniform Plumbing Code insofar asthe same is isolated from the disposer discharge by baffle Tee 102, andalso provides standpipe vertical isolation by the elevated mounting ofelbow 126 relative to the disposer discharge outlet 34. However, aspreviously indicated, the installation system and coupling of FIG. 7 isnot usable in those jurisdictions listed above which prohibit use ofsaddle drain hardware connections.

Fifth Embodiment Waste Drain System and Sixth Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 8 illustrates an R/O waste water drain line installation inaccordance with the invention applied to a conventional doublecompartment sink installation wherein a non-disposer sink compartment300 is mounted in the kitchen counter 22 immediately adjacent thedisposer-equipped sink compartment 20. The sole bottom outlet 302 ofsink 300 is connected to a waste line comprising a conventional flangedtail piece 304 having its lower slip end inserted through a slip jointnut 306 and into the upper end of a slip joint elbow fitting 308 Inaccordance with a principal feature of this embodiment of the invention,a sixth embodiment waste water coupling 310 connects the horizontaloutlet run or elbow 308 to a section of 1½″ tubing 312 (both ends areslip ends) having its downstream slip end coupled by S/J nut 116 to thebranch inlet of baffle Tee 102. Baffle Tee 102 is coupled between thedisposer outlet elbow 36 and trap 46 in the manner of system of FIG. 5.

Coupling 310 includes a commercially available, standard slip jointplumbing component, namely a three-way slip joint Tee (e.g., DearbornPlastic Part No. 9679) oriented with its main through bore horizontaland having S/J nuts (and associated S/J beveled washers) 314 and 316provides at its inlet and outlet respectively coupling thereto the slipends of fittings 308 and 312. The side or T-inlet 318 of three-way Tee310 is provided with the S/J nut 110, washer 146, closure plate 140 anddrain elbow 126 coupled thereto in the manner in which these parts arecoupled in assembled relation to the upper end inlet of Tee 102 in FIG.3. Waste water drain tube 76 is likewise coupled to elbow 126 in themanner of FIG. 3. Tube 76 connects to an R/O drinking water appliancesystem installed in the manner of FIG. 2, but illustrations of thesepreviously described R/O system components is omitted from FIG. 8 forclarity.

The double sink installation of FIG. 8 utilizing coupling 310 representsan inexpensive solution to the problem of coupling the R/O waste waterdrain line to trap 46 in parallel with both the garbage disposer 26 ofsink 20 and the sink waste water drain from non-disposer sink 300 byeliminating a saddle drain clamp coupling, also makes it less expensiveand easier to install the R/O waste water drain line to the undersinkplumbing components typically found in residential householdinstallations.

Sixth Embodiment Waste Drain System

FIG. 9 illustrates the circled portion of the double sink setup of FIG.8 with a modified connection system wherein the three-way S/J Tee 310 isre-oriented with its main through-bore vertical and its inlet coupled byS/J nut 314 to the slip end of a short tail piece 320 in turn connectedat its upper flange end to the waste outlet plumbing 302 of sink 300.The outlet of fitting 310 is coupled by its S/J nut 316 to the slip endof a standard plumbing fitting 322 which in turn is coupled in aconventional manner through a horizontal run (not shown) to baffle Tee102 connected as shown in FIG. 8. Hence the modified installation ofFIG. 9 likewise meets all applicable plumbing codes for a double sinkinstallation by avoiding the use of a saddle drain clamp for couplingthe waste water tube 76 to the non-disposer sink of a single or doublesink drain system.

Seventh Embodiment Coupling

Referring to FIG. 10, a modified, custom-made baffle Tee fitting 400 isillustrated fragmentarily and with portions broken away to illustratedetail. Fitting 400 is intended as an alternate to coupling 220 for usewith the R/O waste water drain installation system of FIG. 5 and issimilar to baffle Tee 102 in having S/J nut 110 (and associated S/Jbeveled washer) threadably received on its upper inlet end threads 106.Baffle Tee 400 likewise has the standard slip fit extension 134 andinterior baffle 118 of Tee 102. However the inlet to Tee 400 is modifiedfrom Tee 102 in a manner similar to the modified upper inlet of fitting202 of FIG. 4. Thus the side or T-inlet of baffle Tee 400 comprises acylindrical wall protrusion 402 integrally joined at joint line 404 toend closure structure comprising a conical wall portion 406 and anintegral flat circular end wall portion 408. An outward protrusion orboss 410 is provided centrally of end wall portion 408 and has aninternally threaded through opening 412 adapted to threadably receivethe nipple threads 128 of drain elbow 126.

Modified fitting 400 is installed in place of and oriented the same asfitting 102 in FIG. 5 Elbow 126 is similarly threadably coupled toopening 412 of the side inlet of fitting 400 Although fitting 400, likefitting 202, is initially more costly to manufacture because it is acustom fitting versus a coupling utilizing a standard commerciallyavailable universal fitting component, if economies of scale or volumeare achievable fitting 400 could become cost competitive with fitting102, and has the advantage of reducing installation labor time andattendant costs. Although conventional injection molding techniqueswould suggest that the end closure piece 406-412 be made initially as aseparate part and permanently joined at joint 404 to inlet 402 bysuitable means such as adhesive or ultrasonic welding, it is alsopossible, of course, to make fitting 400 (as well as fitting 202) as aone piece part by using conventional “lost wax” type investment castingtechniques.

Eighth Embodiment Coupling

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified custom-made three-way Tee 500 intended asa substitute for the three-way coupling 310 of FIGS. 8 and 9 in thedouble sink installation illustrated therein. Three-way Tee 500 of FIG.11 thus has the same main body portion 502 of coupling 310 as well asthe associated S/J nuts (and washers) 314 and 316 respectively providedat its inlet and outlet ends. However, in a manner similar to fittings202 and 400, the structure for coupling the drain elbow 126 into Tee 500is provided by a cylindrical wall protrusion 504 joined at a circularjoint 506 to a conical wall portion 508 in turn integrally joined toflat end wall portion 510. A central boss protrusion 512 of wall 510 hasa pipe-threaded through-opening 514 adapted to threadably receive thenipple threads 128 of elbow 126. Modified fitting 500 is thussubstituted for and installed in the same manner as fitting 310 in theinstallation system of FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. The manufacturing andinstallation economics of fittings 202 and 400 thus likewise apply tofitting 500.

From the foregoing description it will now be readily understood bythose skilled in the art that the reverse osmosis waste water draininstallation system and coupling of the present invention in variousembodiments overcome the several problems discussed previously in areliable, simple, economic and safe manner. The system and couplingembodiments of the present invention now enable rejecter waste waterdrain line of the conventional commercially available reverse osmosisdrinking water appliances to be quickly and easily installed in singlesink/disposer undercounter household installations, whether existing ornewly installed, while satisfying the Uniform Plumbing Code criteria forsuch waste water hook-ups, as well as complying with manufacturerswarranties. The various coupling embodiments and system hook-ups of theinvention offer great flexibility in connecting to the various plumbinghook-ups encountered with double sink installations, i.e., a disposersink 20 and non-disposer sink 300 installed side by side as in FIG. 8.It will also be understood that (e.g., if economically justified by highvolume demand for mass production) the integral molded end wallconstruction of modified couplings 200, 400 and 500 can be substitutedfor plate 140 at the upper end of tail piece 233 to thereby likewiseprovide a modified custom tail piece in FIG. 6 for use in place of tailpiece 233. Similarly, an integrally molded closure plate can besubstituted for the imperforate separate closure plate at the upper endof a custom made tail piece for use in place of tail piece 250 in FIG.7.

Ninth Embodiment Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate a presently preferred R/O waste water drain lineadapter coupling 600 of the invention adapted for use in theundercounter plumbing fitting coupling systems of the type illustratedin FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, as further explained in conjunction withFIGS. 16-31, and wherein previously described parts of the couplingsystem of the invention are given like reference numerals and theirdescription not repeated. R/O drain line adapter coupling 600 ispreferably an injection molded part made of a suitable plastic material,such as polypropylene (PP) or polyvinylchloride (PVC), so as tointegrally incorporate the R/O drain elbow with the plumbing fittingcoupling means which connects the outlet of the elbow with the upperinlet of baffle Tee 102, and which also provides the end closure meansoperably associated with the elbow and Tee coupling means to close theupper inlet of Tee 102. Adapter coupling 600 thus provides a sealed R/Owaste water drain passageway from the R/O waste water drain line 76 intothe upper inlet of Tee 102 via such integrated elbow and end closuremeans of adapter 600.

More particularly, adapter 600 comprises a cylindrical skirt 602 open atits lower end edge 604 and having a uniform outside diameter adapted fora slip fit of skirt 602 into the inlet counterbore 123 of Tee 102 asshown in FIG. 22. When adapter 600 is fully inserted into the upperinlet of Tee 102, the lower edge 604 of skirt 602 abuts the shoulder 125conventionally provided at the transition between inlet counterbore 123and the slightly smaller diameter main bore 120 of the reduced diameterslip sleeve portion 134 of Tee 102. The actual length of skirt 602 ispreferably slightly greater than one inch so when adapted for use inconjunction with standard one and one—half inch diameter S/J fittings soas to protrude above flange 104 of Tee 102 and slightly above the upperend of the S/J nut 110 in its normal fully-threaded assembled positionon Tee 102 as shown in FIG. 22.

The upper end of skirt 602 is integrally joined to a conical dome 606 atan integral annular shoulder junction 608 so that adapter 600 forms asealed closure for the upper inlet of Tee 102. Dome 606 preferably has aconical angle of about 45° and is configured at its upper end to providea speed fit/push-in connector assembly “integrally built-in” to therebyform with dome 606 and skirt 602 of adapter 600 a modified R/O drainelbow adapter coupling of the invention.

To this end, a tubular integral inlet nozzle socket protuberance isformed at the apex of crown 606 having a major or longitudinal axisextending preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis ofskirt 602. The socket protuberance thus has a generally semi-cylindricalraised inlet channel portion 610 merging, in a direction outwardly fromthe crown apex, with an enlarged full-cylinder portion 612, which inturn merges at its outer end integrally with a still further enlargedfull-cylinder portion 614 which forms the mouth of this barrel-likeinlet socket protuberance of adapter 600. Portion 612 has a cylindricalbore 616 sized for the slip fit of the O. D. dimension of tube 76 (suchas ⅜ inch). Bore 616 extends outwardly from the crown apex to a largercounterbore 618 formed partially in portion 612 and partially in portion614. Counterbore 618 receives the O-ring 133 at the shoulder junctionbetween bores 616 and 618. The inner end of bore 616 opens to a slightlysmaller diameter downwardly opening passageway 620. The shoulder at thejunction of passage 620 and bore 616 provides the interior stop for theinner end 622 of tube 76.

Bore 618 is beveled at its outer end to receive a commercially availabledouble tapered cap-collar 624 which in turn receives the commerciallyavailable collet 132 slidably therethrough. Cap collar 624 is preferablyultrasonically welded to the beveled mouth surface of bore 618 topermanently affix this part of the Speed Fit/Push-In connector in theintegral fitting 610-614.

The inlet passage 620 formed in the semi-cylindrical raised protuberance610 is open through approximately 180° at its underside to the interiorof dome 606. Passage 620 at its inner end terminates horizontally at adownwardly curved hemispherical portion 626. The smaller barrel portion612 is made as a full cylinder and hence protrudes at its underside intothe interior space of the conical dome 606 (FIGS. 14 and 15).

It is to be understood that parts 132, 624 and 133 are commerciallyavailable from such manufacturing sources as John Guest U.S.A., Inc. ofTotowa, N.J. (such as their Model WC-385-05 ⅜ inch acetal food-gradecopolymer collet/cap system) or from Parker Hannifin Corporation ofRavenna, Ohio (“Parflex TrueSeal™” quick-connect tubing fittings). Theoperation of such commercially available Speed Fit/push-in connectionsare well understood and is shown semi-diagrammatically in the sequenceof the views of FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 respectively. As explained generallyhereinbefore, to connect the outlet end 622 of R/O drain tube 76 to thesuch quick-connect fitting subassembly contained in adapter 600, outletend 622 is manually pushed straight into and through collet 132 about ¾inch until it abuts the stop shoulder between bores 616 and 620, asshown in FIG. 25. Then a slight separational force manually exerted ontube 76 relative to adapter 600 pulls collet 132 slightly outwardlythereby producing a wedging action with cap collar 624 and thus causingthe collet barbs to dig further into the plastic material of tube 76(typically calibrated nylon polyethylene or similar tube of sufficientrigidity). During this retrograde motion the exterior flange of collet132 moves slightly away from cap-collar 624 to the tube-holding positionof FIG. 24. To release tube 76 from adapter 600 the flange of collet 132is pushed against cap-collar 624 to thereby release the grip force ofthe collet barbs on tube 76, thereby freeing tube 76 to be pulled outfrom the fitting of adapter 160 while the flange of collet 132 is beingheld pushed in against cap-collar 624.

Preferably adapter coupling 600 of the invention is provided to both theprofessional and home do-it-yourself markets as a convenient drain lineadapter kit. The kit comes in two versions, a “DLA-9” for a singlecompartment sink equipped with a disposal, and a “DLA-12” for a singlecompartment sink without disposal or a double compartment sink with orwithout a disposal on one of the compartments. The DLA-9 kit includesadapter coupling 600, with its built-in tubing quick-connectsubassembly, as well as conventional commercially available slip joint(S/J) plumbing fittings including one disposal S/J (baffle) Tee 102, oneS/J flanged tail-piece 154, two S/J wing nuts 110 and 116 and two S/Jbeveled washers W, along with printed installation instructions. Thiskit in use provides all of the needed materials to make a quick andinexpensive connection of the outlet end of R/O waste water drain tube76 to the existing undercounter household plumbing system for sink 20when provided with garbage disposer 26.

FIGS. 16-22 sequentially illustrate the installation procedure using theDLA-9 kit materials for converting the plumbing of a singlesink/disposal installation to receive the reject water from anundercounter reverse osmosis appliance to achieve the installedconfiguration of FIG. 21. This procedure comprises the following steps:

1. Remove the existing disposal ELL 36 (FIG. 16) and J-bend fitting 46from disposal 26 and trap fitting 54. A bowl should be placed belowthese fittings during this unhooking procedure to catch trap water.

2. Then, from the tail piece 154 provided in the kit (FIG. 17), cut anew flange tail piece 154′ so that the cut end is spaced approximately ½to 2 inches from the flange of the tailpiece, i.e., so that whenpositioned between disposal 26 and the disposal Tee 102 (taken from thekit), tailpiece 154 of Tee 102 will line up and insert into J-bendfitting 46, as illustrated in FIG. 19.

In rare cases, it may be necessary to rotate the disposal 26 and J-bend46 in order to gain the distance required to line up the new disposalTee 102. To do this, merely loosen the disposal locking ring of the sinkoutlet disposal mounting fittings (not shown) and then rotate disposal26 as desired, then tighten down.

3. Reuse the rubber gasket and mounting flange 38, removed in step 1from the disposal ELL 36, by mounting the gasket and flange on the newtailpiece 154′, as indicated in FIG. 18.

4. Then insert the new drain line adapter coupling 600 of the inventioninto the top inlet of disposal Tee 102 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 22,preferably until the lower edge 604 of skirt 602 firmly seats on thebottom of the socket formed by wall 123 and shoulder 125 of Tee 102.Then slip S/J beveled washer W over the upper end of the adapter anddown along skirt 602 until it is seated on bevel 136 of Tee flange 104(in the position shown in FIG. 22). Next one of the S/J wing nuts 110 isslipped over adapter 600 and screwed partially down on Tee 102 byengaging the nut threads 108 with the flange threads 106. The internalflange lip 138 of nut 110 will seat on the flat upper surface of the S/Jwasher W and (during step 7) will force the same downwardly againstbevel 136, thereby simultaneously causing bevel 136 to squeeze washer Winto tight frictionally grip and sealing embrace with skirt 602.

It will thus be seen that adapter 600 with its turn tailpiece—type skirt602 is fully compatible to operate as an axially adjustable S/Jcoupling.

It is to be noted that the slope of dome 606 enables washer W and nut110 to be slipped over the socket protuberance of adapter 600 during theforegoing subassembly procedure of this step.

5. Then mount the gasket-flange end of cut tail piece 154′ withfasteners 40, in the reverse order that disposal ELL 36 was removed(FIG. 18). Then install the side inlet 112 of disposal Tee 102 securelyonto cut end of tailpiece 154′ using the second S/J washer W and secondwing nut 116 provided in the kit (FIG. 19).

6. As indicated in FIGS. 19 and 21, replace J-bend 46 by simultaneouslysliding the outlet end of J-bend 46 onto trap fitting 54 and the inletend of J-bend 46 onto tailpiece 134 of disposal Tee 102. Secure bothends tightly by reusing original S/J nuts 48 and 49 and associated S/Jbevel washers (FIG. 21).

7. Next, if necessary, rotate adapter 600 so that the axis of thepush-in connector socket protuberance is aligned towards the terminaloutlet run of reject water drain tubing 76. Adapter 600 is then securedtightly onto Tee 102 by tightening wing nut 110, so that the foregoingparts are fully assembled and tightly secured as shown in FIGS. 21 and22.

8. To complete the installation, insert outlet end 622 of tube 76 fullyinto the push-in connector of adapter 600, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.The installation instructions provided with the aforementioned kit alsocaution the installer to use only high quality ⅜ inch O.D. tubing ofexact size and roundness with no surface nicks or scratches. Also toalways make a clean square cut if necessary, using a plastic tubingcutting or sharp razor knife. To assure a leak-free connection, tubingend 622 must seat fully into the bottom of the push-in connector socket.If there is any doubt, the installer is instructed to measure ¾ inchfrom the end 622 of tube 76 and insert this measured length (when using⅜″ tubing) until the stop of tubing insertion motion is felt as it abutsthe internal shoulder at the inner end of bore 616.

With coupling 600 of the invention so installed on the singlesink/disposer set-up system of FIG. 21, and assuming the other setup andcheck out procedure normally associated with the reverse osmosisdrinking water appliance equipment has been completed, the system ofFIG. 21 is now ready for operation. As in the first embodiment system ofcoupling described previously, the reject water from the reverse osmosisof this system will flow via tube 76 down through adapter fitting 600into the upper end of Tee 102 and then downwardly to trap 46 fordisposal into the household sewer system. Again, normal water drainagefrom sink 20 as well as garbage disposal refuse forcibly ejected via theoutlet of disposer 26 will enter Tee 102 via inlet 112 and be diverteddownwardly by the baffle 118. As before, Tee baffle 118 thus insuresfunctional isolation of the garbage disposer outlet flow from the wastewater drain flow. In addition, the position of adapter inlet passageway620, well above disposer outlet 34 by its mounting on the upper end ofTee 102, further isolates the two flows and helps to further preventcontamination of the waste water tube outlet 622. Adapter coupling 600of the invention thus is also designed to satisfy the Uniform PlumbingCode for waste drain liquid systems arranged in parallel waste flow withdisposer 26.

As an optional addition, adapter coupling 600 may be provided with aninterior back check valve flap 630 (indicated by broken lines in FIGS.14 and 15). Flap 630 is attached to the inner surface of dome 606approximately midway between shoulder 608 and the interior protuberanceof barrel portion 612, as by a rivet, adhesive or ultrasonic welding.Flap 630 is slightly flexible and resilient so that it can flexdownwardly in response to incoming flow of R/O bypassed waste water soas not to impede such flow, the flap attachment portion serving as thelocus of this hinged flexing pivotal opening motion. Flap 630 will swingupward to its closed position illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 underconditions of no inflow from tube 76 or back pressure or backflowdeveloping downstream of the adapter. Preferably, flap 630 is made ofsemi-resilient corrosion resistant material in flat sheet stock, such asneoprene, polypropylene (PP) or other suitable material compatible withthe material of adapter 600.

The aforementioned “DLA-12” kit provides all needed materials to make aquick and inexpensive connection of the outlet end of [R/O] R/O wastewater drain tube 76 to the existing undercounter household plumbingsystem normally encountered with a single compartment sink not equippedwith a disposal, or for a double compartment sink with a disposalconnected to only one of the sink compartments. This kit again includesthe same adapter coupling 600 of the invention, as well as commerciallyavailable S/J plumbing fittings including one 3-way repair Tee 650(FIGS. 28-31), three S/J wing nuts 110, 652 and 654 and three S/Jbeveled washers W. FIGS. 26-30 sequentially illustrate the installationprocedures using these DLA-12 kit materials for converting the plumbingof a double compartment sink installation similar to the type shown inFIG. 8. Sink compartment 20 is thus equipped with a disposer 26 and theadjacent sink compartment 300 is conventionally connected to drain intothe side inlet of the existing disposal baffle Tee 102. Thisinstallation procedure comprises the following steps (for the exemplaryvertical installation illustrated in FIG. 30):

1. As shown in FIG. 26, measure the midpoint on the existing verticaltailpiece 304 between the bottom of sink compartment 300 and thehorizontal waste ELL 308. A minimum of 4 inches of “exposed” tubing isrequired.

2. Cut-out one and one half inch of tubing 304 (¾ inch on both sides ofthe mid-point measurement). Always insure that tube ends are cutsquarely and inserted to the bottom of all slip joint sockets.

3. Remove the cut-out section 304′ and, as shown in FIG. 27, install S/Jnut 652 and associated S/J bevel washer W in that order on the upper cutend 656 of tube 304. Likewise, sequentially install S/J nut 654 andassociated S/J bevel washer W on the lower cut end 658 of tube 304.Always face the bevel side of washer W towards the fitting 650 to beinstalled. Then insert the 3-way repair Tee 650, insuring that the tubeends 656 and 658 respectively seat completely into the sockets of theaxially opposite ends of Tee 650. As shown in FIG. 28, this may beaccomplished by loosening the S/J nut 116 joining the horizontal wasteELL 308 to the disposal baffle Tee 102 until there is enough play tofirst bend the waste EEL 308 downwardly and then to raise the cut tubeend 658 up into the bottom outlet end of Tee 650.

4. Next, rotate the side outlet 660 of Tee 650 to the desired directionfor alignment with the R/O waste drain 276. Then firmly tighten the topS/J nut 652 and bottom S/J nut 654 in that order. Then resecure thewaste ELL 308 to baffle Tee 102 and tighten S/J nut 116.

5. As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, insert the skirt 602 of the new drainline adapter coupling 600 from the kit into the side inlet socket 660 ofTee 650 until it fully bottoms in the socket. Then rotate thequick-connect socket protuberance 614 of adapter 600 towards incomingreject water drain tubing 76 for proper alignment therewith. Thentightly secure adapter 600 on Tee 650 by using the S/J washer W andthird wing nut 110 provided in the kit (FIGS. 29 and 30).

6. Lastly, fully insert the outlet end 622 of drain tube 76 into thepush—in connector of adapter 600 to complete the installation as shownin FIG. 30.

To install the DLA-12 kit components to a single compartment sinkwithout disposal as shown in FIG. 31, simply follow the instructions ofsteps 1-6 above, with the following exception:

Once the one and one half inch of tubing has been removed from thecenter of tailpiece 304 (FIGS. 26-27), disconnect and lower the J-bend46 from trap fitting 54.

Insert the three-way repair Tee 650, then reconnect the trap pieces 46and 54. Use a bowl B to catch trap water.

It is also to be understood, that as an optional configuration adaptercoupling 600 may be installed onto the existing disposal ELL 36 ifdesired, provided there is enough clearance (such as shown in the systemof FIG. 5) to substitute adapter coupling 600 for adapter coupling 126in the system of FIG. 5, using the materials of the DLA-9 kit. Moreover,adapter coupling 600 also may be substituted for coupling 126 in thedouble compartment sink installation of FIG. 8, using the materialsprovided in the kit DLA-12.

Tenth Embodiment Adapter Coupling

Referring to FIGS. 32-35, a modified adapter coupling embodiment 700 isillustrated which is identical to adapter coupling 600 except for theaddition of an external flange 702 integrally joined to and extendingcircumferentially continuously around skirt 602. Flange 702 ispreferably spaced above the lower edge 604 of skirt 602 by a distancecorresponding to the typical distance between the S/J shoulder 125 andthe flat upper end surface of 150 of Tee 102 (FIG. 32). By way ofexample, this distance may be about 22 millimeters, the axial thicknessof flange 702 about 2 millimeters and the distance of flange 702 belowshoulder 608 about 6 millimeters. The outside diameter of flange 702 issized for a slip fit within the S/J nut 110. After coupling 700 is fullyassembled with its skirt 602 slip fit in the socket of the upper inletcounterbore 123 of Tee 102, and a standard S/J bevel washer W isemployed as the seal for the coupling, flange 702 will be trappedbetween the under surface of lip 138 of nut 110 and will bear down andcompress the S/J bevel washer W onto the Tee bevel 136. Skirt lower edge604 will then be spaced only slightly above shoulder 125, as shown inFIG. 32. The thickness of flange 702 corresponds generally to one pitchthickness of thread 106 of the Tee flange 104 and hence sufficientthreads will remain engaged between flange 104 and nut 110 to provide asecure coupling.

Adapter coupling 700, due to the provision of the external flange 702,is particularly well adapted for use in “commercial” applicationswherein the R/O waste water drain connection is being made to heavierwall (e.g., Schedule 40 DWV) standard S/J plumbing fittings, be theymade of rough brass, ABS, PVC steel or cast iron. Commercialapplications, as distinguished from typical residential point-of-useundercounter installations, employ such heavier duty fittings which donot have the socket shoulder 125 of the thin walled undercounter S/Jplumbing fittings. Typical higher capacity R/O water filtrations systemsare installed in such commercial applications for office and factorypoint-of-use and central systems, restaurants and fast foodestablishments, as well as in a whole host of other residential andcommercial applications, such as water softeners and water distillerswith automatic backwash etc.

To fill this need for R/O water drain line coupling in commercialapplications, adapter 700 can, as illustrated by the example of FIGS. 33and 34, be easily installed into the narrow end of a male standard trapadapter fitting 710. One such commercially available trap adapter 710 isthe Genova 700 series male adapter Part No. 70415, Schedule 40 PVC-DWVpipe and fittings used in drain-waste-vent applications. The inlet bore712 of fitting 710 thus is designed to slip fit receive standard one andhalf inch S/J fittings. The outlet bore 714 is adapted to telescopicallyreceive and be joined by adhesive or solvent weld to standard one andone half or two inch commercial Schedule 40 plumbing pipe or fittings.One such fitting is the standpipe 716 shown in FIG. 34 and coupled via aU-bend fitting 718 and trap elbow 720 to a waste Tee 722 installed in avertical drain pipe line 724. Fitting 710 is provided with a standard45° bevel 726 adapted for use with O-ring type seals. Hence adaptercoupling 700 preferably includes, in addition to flange 702, an O-ring728 which is suitably dimensioned so as to be recessed slightly from theouter periphery of flange 702 and to seat on bevel 726. Hence O-ring 728is sealably captured between flange 702 and bevel 726 when S/J nut 110is threaded down onto the standard male threads 730 of male adapter 710.Since there is no stop shoulder in the smaller socket of this Schedule40 fitting male adapter 710, such as shoulder 125 of Tee fitting 102,the proper insertion distance for adapter coupling 700 is established byits flange 702. Flange 702 bearing on O-ring 728 also assures propercompression forces axially and, in conjunction with the wedging of bevel726, radial inward squeezing forces to provide a liquid tight seal inthe fully assembled position of adapter coupling 700 on fitting 710(FIG. 33). A suitable beveled washer may be substituted for O-ring 728,if desired.

As shown in FIG. 35, adapter 700 can also be readily used to couple R/Owaste drain tube 76 to a standard floor drain fitting 732 having astandard one and half inch I.D. socket 734 provided with standard malepipe threads at its upper end, similar to male adapter 710. R/O drainwater thus is coupled via adapter coupling 700 to pipe 732 and thencevia standard elbows 734, 738 and associated horizontal pipe run 740 tospill into a typical floor drain 742. Typically, the bottom of floordrain 742 is perforated at 744 to drain into the floor inlet of anunderfloor drain pipe and the spacing of the lower end 746 of elbow 738above the upper overflow edge 748 of floor drain 742 provides thetypical air gap required by standard sanitization codes. Again, theproper insertion distance of adapter coupling 700 into the upper end ofstandpipe 732 is established by the adapter flange 702.

Preferably coupling adapter 700 is conveniently packaged as onecomponent in a “DLA-C” kit which includes the complete adapter coupling700 along with a one and half inch Schedule 40 ABS or PVC male trapadapter (MIP adapter), S/J nut and S/J bevel washer or O-ring. Usingthese kit parts as a base, the adapter coupling 700 can then be easilyconnected in any new or existing plumbing drain system, whether smalleror larger than one and half inch. This can be done in ABS, PVC orthreaded pipe by using standard plumbing bushings, couplings or bellreducers to decrease or increase the adapter coupling connection to thesize of existing drain pipe available.

Eleventh Embodiment Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 36-39 illustrate a presently preferred but exemplary eleventhembodiment 800 of a waste water adapter coupling improvement of thepresent invention provided with an air gap feature and primarilyintended for use in the residential and commercial installationsdescribed previously in conjunction with adapter coupling 700. Adaptercoupling 800 is similar to adapter coupling 700 but differs therefrom inhaving an axially elongated upper skirt portion 802, extending betweenflange 702 and shoulder 608 a distance at least about two inches as anintegral extension of lower slip fit skirt 602 and preferably having thesame diameter and wall thickness. Upper skirt 802 is provided with atleast one large vent opening preferably in the back side of adaptercoupling 800 (diametrically opposite the drain tube socket protuberance614). This upper skirt vent opening, in the example shown in FIGS. 36-39is generally rectangular as defined by parallel side edges 804 and 806and top and bottom edges 808 and 810.

Adapter coupling 800 also has an air gap interior drain tube 812 whichextends from dome 606 downwardly concentrically with skirt 602-802 inradially inwardly spaced relationship therewith, and terminates at anopen bottom end edge 814 aligned flush with or slightly below the loweredge 810 of the skirt opening. Tube 812 is provided with an axiallyextending side vent opening of generally rectangular shape as defined byparallel side edges 816 and 818 and a concavely curved upper edge 820(FIGS. 37 and 38). Side edges 816 and 818 terminate at their lower endsat the open lower end edge 814 of tube 812. This vent opening slot 816,818, 820 of tube 812 is preferably oriented to face diametricallyoppositely from the skirt vent opening 804-810, and thus faces towardwaste water drain tube 76 as it enters socket protuberance 614 ofadapter coupling 800. However for ease of molding (i.e., mold making),the diametrically opposite tube and skirt slots can be re-oriented bypositionally rotating them conjointly 90° either clockwise orcounterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 39, as a redesign and build change.

Preferably, except for the aforementioned commercially availablequick-connect components 132, 133, 624, all of the aforementionedstructural elements of adapter coupling 800 are injection molded or castin one-piece, again preferably from PP. The wall thickness of tube 812is generally the same as that of skirt 602, 802, but may have a slighttapering thickness toward the lower end edge 814 to provide a draftangle to facilitate core withdrawal in the molding process However, airgap tube 812 may, if desired, be made as a separate piece andultrasonically welded at its upper end to the interior surface of dome606.

Operation and Advantages of Adapter Coupling Embodiments 600, 700 and800

Adapter coupling 600 and 700 are particularly advantageous for use inR/O waste water residential undercounter drain installations, regardlessof which of the aforementioned waste drain Water from tube 76 into thehalf open passage 620, with its hemispherically shaped end wall 626, andthe associated concave interior surface of conical dome 606, theincoming flow of R/O waste drain water as it emerges from outlet end 622of tube 76 tends to fan out from the lower side opening of passageway620 in a “sheeting” action. That is, this waterflow tends to cling bycapillary action to the 360° concave interior surface of dome 606 andthen run down along the interior surface of skirt 602, and likewise intoand along the interior wall of tail piece 134 of Tee 102. Hencecouplings 600 and 700 also eliminate or greatly reduce the “trickle”noises created by the central column of R/O drain water discharged fromelbow 126 employed in the previous embodiments This noise reductionfeature can be an important advantage in household installations whereinthe R/O water filtration system may and often does operate when there isno overriding noise from usage of either the sink faucets or sinkdisposer, and hence when the noise level in the room is low. Under suchconditions, the trickle noise of R/O waste water drainage, if audible,can be annoying to the occupants.

In addition, couplings 600 and 700 are advantageous from the standpointof being less likely to be clogged by debris from drainage systemback-up or otherwise due to the dome 606 providing a wide taperingoutlet from tube end 622 for the incoming R/O drain water, as comparedto the smaller diameter outlet of elbow fitting 126. The telescopic,recessed slip-fit entrance of skirt 602 into the S/J Tee fittingconnection reduces clogging. Also, couplings 600 and 700 offer lesschances for leakage than coupling 100 because there is one less joint toseal, i.e., they eliminate the joint between the internal pipe threads144 of central boss 142 and the male pipe threads 128 of the nipple endof elbow 126.

All of the adapter couplings 600, 700 and 800 are completely compatiblewith standard S/J plumbing fittings provided with standard beveled S/Jwashers and S/J nuts whether they be made of rough brass, chrome platedbrass, ABS, PVC or P.P. In addition, adapter couplings 700 and 800 canbe fitted to Schedule 40 plumbing parts, such as male adapter 710, andhence are ideally suited for all types of residential and commercialplumbing applications. While it is preferred that adapter 600 have itsskirt 602 fully bottomed against the socket shoulder 125 found in thinwall S/J plumbing parts, such as that found in baffle Tee 102, it alsois to be understood that skirt lower edge 604 can be spaced slightlyabove shoulder 125 without thereby impairing its sealing and frictionalgrip cooperation with the standard beveled S/J washer W and associatedwing nut 110 when used in such installations. All of the couplingembodiments 600, 700 and 800 are fully rotatable through 360˜ during themounting procedure for ease of alignment with the R/O waste water draintube 76, without thereby altering or impairing the quality of thesealing engagement of bevel washer W or O-ring 728 and associated nut110 and, in the case of couplings 700 and 800, flange 702. With thequick connect commercial parts 132, 624 and 133 permanently installed inthe tube socket protuberance of these adapter coupling, no subassemblyof such adapter parts need be performed by the installer/customer.

In the normal operation of air gap adapter coupling 800, R/O waste drainbypass water enters the adapter coupling passage 620 in a manner similarto embodiments 600 and 700. However, the capillary sheet action of dome686 is reduced due to the intervention of air gap tube 812, even thoughsuch action occurs albeit to a lesser extent due to the flow orientationof passage 620 relative to the axis of tube 76 and the perpendicularrelationship of the axis of tube 812 thereto, as well as the curvatureof the interior surface passage 620 and the wall of tube 812.Nevertheless, drippage action off the lower end of the tube obviouslywill occur, and the waste water stream into adapter 710 and the plumbingthere below can, result in a higher noise level of operation than withadapter couplings 600 and 700. Moreover, the air gap vent opening804-810 in skirt 802 will allow noise to escape from the adaptercoupling, but this is a common and accepted characteristic of air gapfixtures. Thus in the commercial applications intended for use ofadapter coupling 800, any such operational noise is not a disadvantagebecause of the typical noisy environment in which such fixtures areused.

Adapter coupling 800 enables a quick, easy and inexpensive combinationR/O waste drain and air gap connection to be made to drain plumbingwhere, unlike household undercounter installations, an existing air gapfixture may not be available upstream of the coupling. Hence plumbingcode air gap requirements can be economically satisfied by use ofcoupling 800 in these installation situations. For example, commerciallyavailable water softening appliances, whether used alone or inconjunction with R/O water filter systems, have a waste water bypasssystem operable during the back flushing cycle and hence have back-flushdrain tubing which needs to be coupled to drain sewer systems or thelike. Adapter coupling 800 is ideally suited for these non-R/Oapplications as well as for R/O applications.

Under abnormal operational conditions, as when water or sewage back upoccurs downstream of the installed adapter coupling 800, such back upwater can rise in coupling 800 only until it reaches the overflow spilllevel or flood level of overflow opening 804-810. Hence such back upliquid cannot rise further to contaminate the incoming waste water drainflow emerging from the outlet of tube 76 or, when there is little or nosuch flow to possibly back up into tube 76, i.e., the standard functionand operation of an air gap in the drain line system. For this reason,industry standards specify that the vertical elevation from thelowermost flood level at edge 810 to the fitting drain inlet 620 be atleast two inches. Coupling 800 is thus designed to meet or exceed thisrequirement.

Moreover, the open slot 816-820 in air gap tube 812 prevents back upliquid from rising in tube 812, which otherwise might occur under backup surge conditions. Likewise the vertically co-extensive air gap slots804-810 and 816-820 provide ample vertical separation and ambientexposure to the drain flow path to fully prevent any back-siphon suctionpressure from drawing downstream contaminated water back up into thedrain tube 76, i.e., the normal anti-siphon action of an air gap. Inaddition, the side wall of air gap 812 being closed for approximately300°, with its slot 816-820 facing oppositely from the outer air gapslot 804-810, provides an anti-splash effect which prevents the R/O orother appliance bypass drain water (or other liquid) surges entering thetop of the tube 812 from spraying or splashing out of the outer skirtair gap vent opening 804-810. This reversed orientation of therespective air vent slots also contributes to muffling the noiseemanating from coupling 800 generated by incoming drain water from tube76. However, as indicated previously it is also to be understood thatthe orientation of vent slots 804-810 and 816-820 can be rotated 90°relative to the axis of tube 76, so as to still be open in oppositedirections but both directions being oriented parallel to the plane ofthe drawing of FIGS. 36 and 37, if desired to facilitate molding whenthe mold parting line lies in such plane.

Because adapter coupling 800 at its lower end is constructed with slipfit skirt 602 and stop flange 702 of adapter coupling 700, it likewisecan be used with standard slip joint undercounter household plumbingfittings, although its primary intended application, as indicatedpreviously, is in residential and commercial Schedule 40 plumbingapplications. It is also to be understood that all of the adaptercoupling embodiments of the invention can be either adapted to orconverted for different sizes of drain tube 76 other than the ⅜ inch O.D. tubing shown by way of example herein. This can be accomplished byusing a JOHN GUEST® barbed male-to-male adapter fitting having anupstream barbed male end sized to receive for example ½ inch I. D. or O.D. tubing and a downstream smooth male end made ⅜ inch in diameter forinsertion through the quick connect component 132,133 and 624 built intothe right angle socket protuberance of the adapter couplings.Alternatively, the dimensions of the protuberance 614 or elbow 126 canbe enlarged and the appropriate size commercially available quickconnect components installed therein. For higher volume applications,the latter approach is preferred because of the elimination of potentialleak joints involved with use of the aforementioned barbed male adapterfitting.

Additional combinations utilizing further variations in the couplingsand system hookups illustrated and described hereinabove will alsobecome apparent from the foregoing disclosure by those skilled in theart to meet the wide variety of undercounter and Schedule 40 plumbinginstallation problems encountered in the field due, for example, toadditional water consuming appliances also being installed undercounterin the vicinity of the sink.

Further Variations of Previous Embodiments

Referring to FIGS. 40-49, it will be seen, as indicated previouslyhereinabove, that the drain line adapter (DLA) couplings 600, 700 and800 of the ninth, tenth and eleventh embodiments described inconjunction with FIGS. 12-39 may be readily modified to accommodatedifferent tubing sizes as well as different types of slip on, quickconnect standardized telescopic plumbing fittings. As shown in FIG. 40the adapter coupling 700 of FIGS. 32-34 is shown to scale but withoutthe associated JOHN GUEST collet 132 and cap collar 624 describedpreviously that respectively fit in bore 618 and on the beveled mouth619 at the outer end of bore 618. These parts are dimensioned to receivea JOHN GUEST ⅜ inch collet/cap system as described previously, which isthe most commonly used O.D. dimension for the R/O waste water drain tube76. However some R/O system manufacturers prefer to use ½ inch O.D.waste water drain tubing. This larger size is shown as tubing 76′ inFIG. 41, which illustrates how the inlet protuberance portions 612′ and614′ are diametrically enlarged to accommodate this larger size fitting.Note that bore 616 is also now enlarged to accept the ½ inch O.D. end oftube 76′. As is evident from FIGS. 41 and 42 by comparison to FIG. 40,this change in inlet fittings and protuberance size is readilyaccomplished with a minimum mold redesign and without affecting thefunction, mode of operation and improved results of the drain lineadapter coupling 700. The same dimensional changes are likewise readilyincorporated into the drain line adapted 600 and 800.

Referring to FIGS. 43-47, any of the drain line adapters 600, 700 and800 of the ninth, tenth and eleventh embodiments (as well as those ofthe twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments describedhereinafter) may also be readily modified to be compatible, for use withJACO® brand telescopic slip fit, compression type tube fitting systemsof the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,501,177 and 4,298,222, (whichare incorporated herein by reference), and which are commerciallyavailable from JACO Manufacturing Company of Berea, Ohio. In order toaccommodate such JACO fittings, the drain line adapter coupling 700J, asshown in FIG. 45 by way of example, is modified as to its internaldetails only with respect to the inlet protuberance 612 and 614 so thatbore 616 is diametrically dimensioned to conform with the I.D. of ½ inchO.D. tubing. A tubing stop shoulder 701 is formed at the inner endjunction of a counterbore 703 formed in an external cylindricalprotuberance 705 that is formed to correspond with theferrule-nut-receiving end of a JACO male connector Model 10-10-8. Thus,protuberance 705 is provided with size ⅞ -20 threads. A camming bevel707 is provided at the mouth of protuberance 705 to cooperate with theinner, free end of an integral sleeve 709 customarily provided in oneform of a JACO ferrule nut 711 shown in FIGS. 43 and 44. Thus ½ inch R/Owaste water drain tubing of all types made for low pressure applicationsof 50 psi max rating can be quickly and reliable coupled to drain lineadapter 700J. This is done by starting the ferrule nut 711 threadably onthe outer end of protuberance 705. Then the tubing end is cut squarelyand any internal or external burrs are removed. Then the tubing istelescopically inserted through the back of nut 711 and thence all theway through the nut assembly to the tube stop shoulder 701. If thetubing should not enter the nut easily, the nut is loosened one turnwhich then will enable the tubing to be inserted all the way to the tubestop. Then the nut 711 is turned hand tight. This is followed by wrenchtightening of the nut 1½ to 2 turns. Preferably the nut should beretightened when the system reaches projected operating temperature. Theforegoing is standard JACO tube fitting procedure and well understood inthe art.

FIG. 46 illustrates another type of JACO ferrule nut 713 which isprovided with a separate plastic gripper insert component 715. The useand installation of nut 713 on protrusion 705 is the same as with nut711, but the plastic gripper enables use with plastic tubing for assuredgrip up to 200 psi. FIG. 47 illustrates a JACO ferrule insert 717 whichmay be used as a tubing end insert to prevent collapse of the tubingunder the compression stresses of the JACO compression nut system, andhence this insert may be also employed as required in accordance withthe service demands of the installation.

It thus will be seen that the telescopic slip fit type quick connectionemploying the JACO system compression nut components may used as analternative to the previously described push-in collet type quick slipfit connection. Likewise, it will be readily seen that each of theforegoing drain line adapter coupling embodiments 600, 700 and 800 (aswell as those described hereinafter) may be equipped with thisalternative type slip fit tubing connection without altering thefunction, mode of operation and improved results of the drain lineadapter couplings of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 48 and 49, the same illustrate how the previouslydescribed drain line adapters 600, 700 or 800, as well as thosedescribed hereinafter, may be easily modified by simple changes in theplastic injection mold to provide a standard hose barb nipple 719 as anintegral further protuberance extension of the adapter nose protuberanceportion 612 and 614. Passageway 616″ is made of constant diameter andextends all the way through the protuberance portion 612 and 614 as wellas the nipple 719. Nipple 719 receives in push-on telescopic fashion aflexible R/O waste water drain hose of either soft flexible plasticmaterial or similar rubber material to provide a push-on, slip fit quickconnect coupling for those systems employing and such tubing and largerdiameter sizes for their waste water lines Again the function and modeof operation and improved results of the drain line adapter coupling700B conform with that set forth with respect to adapter coupling 600,700 and 800, each of which may likewise be provided with the option of abarbed nipple fitting 719 in the manner set forth in FIGS. 48 and 49.

It is also readily feasible to modify the hose barb nipple 719 toprovide a dual or tandem stepped diameter barbed nipple to accommodatetwo different diametrical sizes R/O waste water drain hoses or the like.To accomplish this the nipple 719 would be constructed in accordancewith the dual diameter hose barb nipple construction shown at 114, 116,118 and 120 in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,058, and asdescribed therein in conjunction with these FIGS. and reference numerals(the same being incorporated herein by reference).

Twelfth Embodiment Drain Line Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 50-53 illustrate the construction and operation of a modifieddrain line adapter 610B that incorporates a ball-and-cage type backcheck valve instead of the flap type back check valve 630 describedpreviously hereinabove in conjunction with FIGS. 14 and 15 as an optionfor use in adapter 610. Adapter 610B is constructed similar toadapter6l0 but is additionally provided with a relatively short interiordrain tube 812′ integrally joined to dome wall 606 at its upper end.Tube 812′ terminates at its lower end at about the elevation of theopening edge 820 of adapter 800 (compare FIG. 38). Tube 812′ is thusunsloted and otherwise imperforate for its full axial length.

An annular, circumferentially continuous, hemispherically contouredvalve ball seat 813 (FIG. 50) is provided on the lower end of tube 812′.An ultra light weight, hollow valve ball 815 is retained below seat 813by a ball cage 817 shown separately in FIGS. 52 and 53. Cage 817 is inthe form of the molded or stamped drawn cup having a cylindricalsidewall 819, perforated by axially elongate slots 821 (FIG. 52), and abottom wall 823 formed by four spokes 825 (FIG. 53). At its upper endcage 817 has a circumferentially continuous radially outwardlyprotruding circular flange 827 provided with four pin holes 829 alignedradially outwardly of four spokes 825 (FIG. 53). Four struts or fins 831extend radially between dome wall 606 and the upper reaches of side wall602 and the cylindrical wall of tube bait 812′ being integrally moldedtherewith, and are angularly spaced 90° apart around the axis tube 812.Each strut 831 is provided with a pin receiving hole 833 oriented foralignment with an associated one of four pin holes 829 in basket flange827. Cage 817 is affixed at its upper end into struts 831 by suitablemounting pin fasteners 835 (FIG. 50) inserted upwardly through cage pinholes 829 and into strut holes 833. Alternatively, pin fasteners 835 maybe provided as integral plastic protuberance (not shown) in place of pinholes 833, and heat upset (as by the sonic “heat stake” method ofplastic welding) at their lower ends after insertion through cage holes829.

Check ball 815 is loosely retained in cage 817 so as to rest on bottomwall 823 in the check valve fully open condition as shown in solid inFIG. 50, and can move freely upwardly to a valve closing position shownin broken lines in FIG. 50 wherein ball 815 seats against valve seat 813to prevent reverse flow of fluids upwardly from within skirt 602 towardsthe outlet end 522 of tube 76. Due to its low mass and highly buoyantcharacteristics, check ball 815 rapidly responds to fluid pressurereversals in the R/O draining system in which adapter 610 is operatingas a coupling. Due to gas back pressure or liquid pressure back flowconditions developing downstream of the adapter in some systems, suchpressure reversals or back flow conditions, if severe enough, can causethe reject water to back up in drain tube 76, which in turn may causedamage to the reverse osmosis membrane of the R/O filter system. Drainline adapter 610B thus is operable to at least temporarily isolate thedrain tube 76 from the effects of such fluid back flow or back upconditions, particularly if such effects are transitory. Due to itsbuoyancy, check ball 815 of adapter 610B is also effective to preventwaste water debris drained into the sewer system downstream of theadapter from gradually backing up into and clogging drain tube 76. Thehemispherical shape of the upper half of check ball 815 is alsoeffective to the reduce the dripping noise of normal R/O waste waterdrainage when check ball 815 is resting on bottom wall 823 of cage 817in its normal fully open position.

If desired, alternatively the bottom wall 823 spokes may be madeconvexly curved toward ball 815 and the lower reaches of basket sidewall 819 diametrically enlarged to touch the inside surface of skirt 602to thereby cause liquid flowing down around ball 815 to flow radiallyoutwardly on the spokes and thence onto the skirt to further reducedrippage noise.

FIG. 53A and is based on FIG. 22, and shows another back check valvecoupling 600′ that is a modification of the twelfth embodiment checkvalve adapter coupling, and wherein the coupling dome 626 is axiallylengthened by incorporating a cylindrical extension section 627 betweenan upper dome portion 626′ and a lower dome portion 629. A modifiedcheck ball 815′ is provided having an O.D. greater than the I.D. of domeextension 62 and less than that of coupling skirt 604. Ball 815′ is thusloosely confined to move freely between valve closed and open positions(shown respectively in solid and broken lines in FIG. 53A). A doublebowed plastic keeper strut 605 diametrically spans the lower interiorend of skirt 604 and is suitably affixed thereto at its bent up ends forsupporting ball 815′ in its lowermost, valve full open condition.

If desired, a hemispherical valve ball seating surface (not shown, butlike seat 813) may be molded or ground into the junction of domeportions 627 and 629. Coupling 600′ thus operates in the mannerdescribed above with reference to coupling 610B, but is less expensivein construction and hence preferred. Also, it is to be understood thatthe diameter of upper dome 626′ may be reduced in hole from that shownin FIG. 53A to enable the use of a smaller diameter check valve ball815, if desired to increase flow clearance between ball 815′ and skirt602. Also, the interior (and preferably exterior) configuration of theentire conical dome 600′ may, alternatively, be made in the classicalconical shape of a bell, with a convex interior and a concave exterior,if desired. In this case, the interior surfaces could form a naturalannular valve seat for the valve check ball.

FIGS. 53B, 53C, 53D and 53E are based respectively on FIGS. 37, 38 and39 and show a further modification of the twelfth embodiment check valvedrain coupling as applied to air gap coupling 800 of the eleventhembodiment. The slotted air gap interior tube 812 is modified as shownin FIGS. 53B-53E to provide a stepped diameter interior air gap tube812′.The valve seat 813 for valve check ball 815 is formed on afrusto-conical tubular and imperforate connecting wall 817 joined at itsupper end (as by solvent welding) to the lower end of a smallerdiameter, imperforate wall upper tube section 819. The lower end of wall817 is integrally joined (as by injection molding) to the upper end of aslotted lower tube section 821. The I.D. of tube section 821 is madeslightly larger than the diameter of ball 815, and the air gap slotopening defined by slot edges 816′, 818′ and 820′ may be made with aslightly larger opening dimension than those of corresponding slot edges816, 818 and 820 of FIGS. 37. The fully open valve lowermost position ofball 815 (shown in broken lines in FIGS. 53B and 530) is established byan inclined keeper disc 823 suitably affixed to tube section 821. Keeperdisc 823 has a leg and foot extension 825 protruding from slot 816′-820′extending to the inner surface of outer tube 802 to promote liquiddrainage flow from interior tube 812′ onto this surface to therebyreduce drippage noise. Keeper 823 may also be installed in a similarmanner in air gap adapter coupling 800 to function solely for drainagenoise reduction, if desired.

FIGS. 53F, 53G and 53H illustrate back check ball valve drain lineadapter coupler 610B′ that is a still further modification of thetwelfth embodiment check valve drain adapter coupling 610B of theinvention, and wherein for brevity elements similar in structure and/orfunction are given a like reference numeral raised by a prime suffix andtheir description not repeated. Coupler 610B′ has four long and narrowinternal ribs 831′ integral with skirt 602′ and with heat stackablemounting pins 835′ protruding integrally from each of their lower ends Athin flat plastic spider keeper 605′ with four legs, and a mounting holeat each leg end, is mounted by pins 835′ to span the interior of skirt602′. A circular center opening 837 (FIG. 53G) in keeper 605′ provides acentering seat for valve check ball 815.

Thirteenth Embodiment Drain Line Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 54-64 illustrate various forms of a modified branch tail piece 870constructed in accordance with the invention for installation as shownin FIG. 61, which is an adaptation of various concepts disclosedhereinabove to meet a particular problem presented by revisions to theplumbing codes of certain states. Such revisions are requiring a “Y”type fitting when a branch inlet is to be provided to communicate with amain vertical run of a plumbing fitting in installations such as shownin FIG. 30 relative to the orientation of adapter 600 on the 90° “Tee”branch inlet of 3-way Tee fitting 650. Although a special 3-way Teecould be made with the axis of S/J the inlet branch “T” angled upward at300 to the vertical axis of the main body of the 3-way Tee in order toaccommodate S/J slip joint fittings and S/J nuts and S/J washers, suchmodified S/J three-way Tees are not as yet commercially available, andthe cost to provide such as a custom item is barrier to their adoptionas a practical matter.

However, in accordance with the present invention it was conceived thatstandard S/J plumbing fittings are currently widely available in theform of branch tail pieces shown by way of example in FIGS. 62, 63 and64. For example, the branch tail piece 850 as shown in FIG. 62 is afemale type branch tail piece with a standard S/J nut 852 captured onits upper end in necklace fashion between an outwardly flared bell upperend of the main tube and a reduced diameter branch inlet stem tube 854.Branch tube 854 is already made angled with its axis at about 300inclined upward relative to the main axis of the S/J tail sleeve 856 oftail piece 850. The standard branch tail piece 860 as shown in FIG. 64is similar but not identical to tail piece 850 and its branch stem tube862 is provided with external hose coupling barbs 864 at its outer end.The standard branch tail piece 866 shown in FIG. 63 is a male typebranch tail piece which has external threads 868 at the upper end of themain sleeve, instead of like tail piece 850 that is provided with an S/Jnut 852 surrounding a female flanged mouth, i.e., a flanged tailpieceSuch standard branch tail pieces 850, 860 and 866 are available witheither barb end or plain end stem tubes 862 or 854 respectively andeither with or without an internal baffle of the type shown at 118 atFIGS. 3 and 4.

These standard branch tail piece S/J fittings are typically employed inplumbing drain hook ups where no garbage disposer is available forconnection of the outlet of a dishwasher drain tube. Instead, the hookup is made to the branch tube stem 854, 862 of the standard tail piece.This customarily involves slipping the open end of the dishwasher drainhose over the hose barbs of the stem tube and fastening the same with ahose clamp. It has also been known for some suppliers of R/O systems toconnect a large diameter R/O waste water drain hose to the stem orbranch tube of a standard S/J branch tail piece in this manner. However,the need for providing and securing a hose clamp, as well as thesediment build up at the “damsite” formed by the protrusion of the inletend of the tail piece stem 854 into the drain tube, renders this hook upimperfect solution to the requirement for an upwardly angled branchinlet tube stem on a vertical main axis installation to meet theaforementioned codes of certain states, and fails to provide theindustry favored “quick connect” feature of the invention.

In accordance with the thirteenth embodiment coupling of the presentinvention, any one of the aforementioned standard branch tail pieces850, 860 or 866 may be readily modified to incorporate certain featuresof the foregoing embodiments to provide a quick slip telescopic jointinstallation coupling to better accommodate installation of R/O wastewater drain hose connections to the drain system, and without the use oftools or installation of hose clamps or other extra parts.

In the form of the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 54 a drain lineadapter coupling assembly 870 is provided which is installed as shown inFIG. 61 beneath sink 300 to provide a quick-connect push in slip fittelescopic connection for the R/O waste water drain tube 76. Coupling870 in the example shown in FIG. 54 utilizes a standard, commerciallyavailable and inexpensive branch tail piece 866, preferably providedwith an interior baffle as described previously, and a special adapterfitting 872 that is permanently joined to the pre-existing angled outerend inlet of the branch stem tube 862.

Adapter 872 comprises a cylindrical body formed at its inlet end withthe same tube receiving bore, collet receiving counterbore andcap-collar-receiving flared mouth utilized in the protuberance 612 offitting 610 described in FIGS. 14 and 15 (see also FIGS. 23-25) toreceive the previously described JOHN GUEST® push-in quick connectfitting parts comprising collet 132, cap collar 624 and O-ring 133.Again these parts are held in assembly by affixing the cap collar 624permanently to body 874 of adapter 872, as by ultrasonic welding,permanent adhesive or the like. Body 874 may be injection molded ofsuitable plastic material such as that used in construction of adapter610 described previously, and is of greater outside diameter than theO.D. of tube stem 862. The outlet end of body 874 is in the form of arelatively thin wall hollow sleeve 876 having an axial length sufficientto fully axially overlap the hose barbs 864 for telescopic sealedassembly thereon. Preferably the I.D. of sleeve 876 has a slightinterference fit over the barbs 864, and sleeve 876 is permanentlyjoined thereto by ultrasonic welding and/or permanent adhesive materialsuch as Locktite® brand anaerobic type adhesive material. It is to benoted that the interior bore 620′ communicating the outlet end 622 oftube 76 with the interior end of sleeve 876 is smaller in diameter thanthe I.D. of the branch stem tube 862. Hence no damsite is present tocreate sediment build up at this joint between adapter 872 and stem tube862.

Body 874 may also be made of other suitable semi-flexible materials,such as hard rubber so that the thin walled sleeve portion 876 isslightly flexible to accommodate slight expansion fit over barbs 864when telescoped thereon. Nevertheless a sonic welded joint, adhesiveheat cured joint or anaerobic adhesive joint is also then utilized toprovide a permanent connection and liquid tight seal of sleeve on tube876 over barbs 864. Of course, when the branch tail piece 850 is usedhaving smooth O.D. stem tube 854, a press-on complementary fit of theouter end of tube 854 within sleeve 876 to form a plastic-to-plasticsonic welding joint is preferred.

FIGS. 55, 56 and 57 illustrate modified forms of exterior sleeve adapterbodies 876, 878 and 880 in which the respective bores 616, 618 and 619for receiving the JOHN GUEST® components 132, 133 and 624 and associatedtube end 622 are respectively sized for ¼ inch, ⅜ inch and ½ inchfitting sizes. The typical branch tail piece tube stem 854 shown as usedwith adapter 876-880 may have an I.D. dimension of ¾ inch and O.D. ⅞inch. Adapter bodies 876, 878 and 880 are external sleeve type similarto adapter body 872, but the sleeve portion 876′ of each of thesefittings is made substantially axially coextensive with a concentricinner body 882 to thereby define a relatively deep cylindrical groove884 for telescopic insertion therein of the outer end of tube stem 854with a press-on telescopic fit. Preferably the plastic material of thetwo parts is ultrasonically welded to form a very tight and securepermanent liquid sealed joint between the bodies 876, 878 and 880 andthe associated tube end of branch stem tube 854.

FIGS. 58, 59 and 60 illustrate a further modification of the branch tailpiece adapter body of FIGS. 55, 56 and 57 wherein the modified bodies876′, 878′ and 880′ are made without the external sleeve 876′ but areotherwise dimensioned for press-on telescopic fit, and permanentaffixation as by sonic welding, and are provided in the threeaforementioned ¼ inch, ⅜ inch and ½ inch sizes respectively.

Referring to FIG. 61, the installation of the modified branch tail piecefitting 870 is shown coupled to a non-disposer sink 300, which may beeither a single sink installation as in or the non-disposer sink side ofthe two-sink installation in FIG. 61.

Alternatively, if production volumes render it economic, branch stemtube 854 and body 880′ may be, by initial mold design and build, madeintegral, and the diameter of tube 854 made the smallest of thediametrical dimensions, thereby enabling the modified branch Teefittings to be molded entirely as a one piece unit with the couplingadapter body thus “built-in”.

Fourteenth Embodiment Drain Line Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 65-68 illustrate a fourteenth drain line adapter coupling of theinvention in which certain principles and features of the previouslydescribed embodiments of the present invention are utilized to provide amodified disposer ELL 900 for quick connect coupling of the R/O wastewater drain tube 76 downstream of the outlet side of the typical garbagedisposer 26 as shown in the installation of FIG. 68. Adapter coupling900 thus constitutes a novel custom fitting that can be used in someinstances to replace, for example, S/J fitting parts 154,134 and 126 inthe installation system of FIG. 2 as described hereinabove, particularlyshould production volumes justify the economics of constructing coupling900 as an integrated unit in the initial design and construction of theproduction molding equipment so that coupling 900 may be economicallyconstructed as illustrated in FIGS. 65-67.

Alternatively, if production volumes render it economic, branch stemtube 854 and body 880′ may be, by initial mold design and build, madeintegral, and the diameter of tube 854 made the smallest of thediametrical dimensions, thereby enabling the modified branch Teefittings to be molded entirely as a one piece unit with the couplingadapter body thus built-in″.

Coupling 900 is configured as a standard disposal ELL with the additionof a waste water drain inlet protuberance 902 (FIGS. 65 and 68)integrally molded at the outside corner of the junction of thequarter-turn (90°) curved elbow portion 904 with the straight sleeveportion 906 of Ell 900. Preferably internally of this junction withprotuberance 902 a baffle extension 910 is integrally molded (FIGS.65-67) to shield and divert disposer discharge from entering the R/Owaste water drain passage 620. As will be evident from FIG. 65,protuberance 902 may be molded to accept the push-in quick connect JOHNGUEST® fitting parts 132, 133 and 624 described previously, as indicatedby the mating sockets shown in 616, 618 and 619 shown in FIG. 65. Thelocation and orientation of the protuberance 902 and passage 620adjacent that internal surface portion 912 of sleeve 906 most remotefrom the inlet mounting flange 914 of ELL 900 helps promotes thesheeting-flow action of R/O waste water draining from passage 620 downalong the wall portion 912 to thereby reduce R/O drainage drip noise inquite environments. Preferably baffle extension 910 is V-shaped in crosssection with its apex pointed upstream to reduce disposer discharge flowresistance of the baffle 910.

It will now be apparent from the foregoing that the modified disposalELL coupling 900 may be readily revised by initial design andconstruction to provide on protuberance 902 any of the previouslydescribed slip-on quick connect telescopic couplings such as the JOHNGUEST® push-in collet and cap collar O-ring type quick connect coupling,the JACO type telescopic slip and compression nut coupling described inconjunction with FIGS. 43-47 or the telescopic slip-on hose barb typenipple coupling 719 described in conjunction with FIGS. 48 and 49, aswell as the various forms of sleeve and plug type quick-connect adaptercoupling described in conjunction with FIGS. 54-64.

It is also to be understood that the standard disposer coupling steelflange 40 shown in FIG. 68 may be necklaced on elbow 904 before formingor affixing mounting flange 914 integrally formed on, or sonicallywelded onto the inlet end of the elbow in accordance with conventionalpractice.

Fifteenth Embodiment Drain Line Adapter Coupling

FIGS. 69-78 illustrate various forms of a drain line adapter “blindplugs” 920, 920′ and 920″ and various installation applications thereof,also provided in accordance with the present invention, that offer manyadvantages to the R/O waste water drain line system installer as well asin other related residential and commercial plumbing installations.Building on the foregoing principles of the drain line adapters 600, 700and 800 described previously, these removable “blind plug” closures ofthe present invention provide a very simple solution to the problems oftemporarily capping off or plugging off exposed drain line openings leftby the removal of various and sundry plumbing fittings, or the lackthereof during incomplete system build-up stages of plumbing.

To this end a blind plug 920 is provided which, in its simplest form, isillustrated in FIGS. 71-73 by itself. In accordance with the principlesof the invention, which take advantage of the wide use and availabilityof inexpensive S/J plumbing fittings, blind plug 920 is made as an S/Jcompatible plug designed to fit and be dimensionally compatible withstandard size S/J plumbing fittings and to be installed and operate inthe manner of standard S/J couplings. Thus blind plug 920 in one senseis “marriage” of two prior features of adapter 700, namely, the radiallyoutwardly protruding flange 702 and at least a portion of thecylindrical skirt 602 that extends integrally from flange 702 downwardlytherefrom to the bottom opening edge 604 of adapter 700. The thirdelement, namely a plug closure portion 922, is an imperforate diskintegrally joined at its outer periphery to the inner periphery offlange 702, and extends in the form shown in FIGS. 69-76 coplanartherewith and has the same thickness dimension as flange 702. In blindplug 920, the structure and function of skirt portion 602 and flangeportion 702 remain the same as in adapter 700 as described previouslyand cooperate with an S/J nut 110 and preferably an S/J washer W in thesame manner shown in FIG. 32 and described previously in conjunctiontherewith. However due to the provision of the closure disk portion 922which is imperforate, we now have an S/J removable sealing closure or“blind plug”.

Thus, in the installation and use of blind plug 920 as shown in FIGS.69, 70 and 74 to temporarily (or even permanently) seal the upper end ofbaffle Tee 102, an S/J washer W is sleeved on skirt portion 602 of blindplug 920 and then both inserted as a loose assembly downwardly into theupper end of baffle Tee 102 as shown in FIG. 74 (which is a replica ofFIG. 22 with adapter 600 removed and replaced by blind plug 920). S/Jnut 110 is then screwed down on threads 106 until the nut internalflange 138 seats squarely and tightly on the outer edge of flange 702,thereby compressing S/J washer W into sealing relation with skirt 602and the coaxial sealing seat of shoulder 104 of baffle Tee 102, in muchthe same manner as adapter 600 is sealably secured on baffle Tee 102 inFIG. 22. It is to be noted that skirt 602 is dimensioned in the mannerof the lower end of the standard slip joint tail piece, like skirt 602of adapter 600 to conform with slip joint plumbing fitting standards.Due to the thinness of the thickness dimension of flange 702 (parallelto the axis of blind plug 920), there remains adequate thread engagementbetween nut 110 and the threads 106 of shoulder 104. FIG. 70 illustratesthe completed S/J plumbing installation assembly with blind plug 920 onthe upper end of baffle Tee 102 as secured thereon by nut 110 in theforegoing manner, FIG. 70 being a replica of FIG. 21 with blind plug 920substituted for adapter coupling 600. It is to be noted that the skirt602 provides a centering guide to ensure centering of flange 720 onwasher W, which in turn is guided accurately onto its associated S/Jseat 136 by the sliding close fit of the cylindrical (but very slightlytapered) skirt 602 into the mating neck of a standard S/J plumbingfitting opening.

FIGS. 75 and 76 illustrate the similar installation of blind plug 920with an associated S/J washer W and S/J nut 110 on the branch Tee 318 ofthe previously described S/J 3-way Tee 310.

FIG. 77 illustrates another form of the blind plug 920′ in which theplug skirt 602′ is made identical to skirt 602 of adapter coupling 700so that a portion 603 of skirt 602′ protrudes above flange 702 and thusslightly projects above the upper surface of S/J nut 110. In this formthe central plug web 922′ (shown in phantom), corresponding to web 922of plug 920, is integrally joined to the upper end edge of the upperskirt portion 603 instead of being coplanar with flange 702 as in blindplug 920. This renders the plug and condition of fitting 710 morereadily visible to the installer to thereby facilitate visual inspectionto ensure a plugged condition when viewing the plugged off installationin side elevation.

FIG. 78 illustrates still another variation in which a modified “double”blind plug and nut assembly 920″ is again installed in fitting 710.Blind plug 920″consists of two blind plugs 920 one stacked upon theother in coaxially aligned relation, with the lower edge 604 of upperplug 920 sonically welded to flange 702 of the lower plug 920 after S/Jnut 110 is first sleeved on skirt 602 of upper plug 920. Double plug920″ thus provides the convenience of carrying its own S/J nut 110permanently and loosely retained in necklaced relation thereon. Doubleplug 920″ also provides a highly visible upward protuberance to indicatethe plugged nature of the fitting with double plug 920 fully installedon the fitting, and the dual flanges 702, particularly flange 702 ofthe. upper plug 920, renders the double plug easy for the installer tohandle and install.

As a further alternative, double plug 920 may be made with either theupper web 922 or the lower web 922 omitted, but when both webs 922 arepresent a double seal is provided to prevent loss of sealing in theevent of pressure rupture of the lower web 922. Alternatively, doubleplug 920 may be modified so that the same is molded in one piece withlower skirt 602 integrally joined to upper skirt 602, and then upperflange 702 not formed until after nut 110 is sleeved into the upperskirt 602. In this latter form upper flange 702 may be formed by heatupset, or alternatively may take the form of one or more radiallyprotruding tabs to service as catch stops for nut 110.

The installations of FIGS. 77 and 78 also illustrate the alternative useof an O-ring 728 on the associated O-ring seat 726 as an alternative tothe use of S/J washer W, although use of an S/J washer W is preferred.

In one working exemplary embodiment of a blind plug 920, the followingdimensions for a typical 1½ inch size S/J joint are to be utilized:

outside diameter of flange 702 1.725 inches outside diameter of skirt602 1.500 inches thickness dimension of flange 702, web 922 and skirt602 0.070 inches axial length of skirt 602 0.500 inches.

The aforementioned blind plugs 920, 920′ and 920″ are suitablydimensioned and constructed according to standard S/J plumbing fittingstandards to be compatible for use on all 1¼ inch, 1½ inch and 2 inchmale iron pipe thread (I.P.T) adapter fittings including those made ofsuch materials as A.B.S., PVC, Rough Brass, Malleable Steel and CastIron.

Applications for blind plugs 920, 920′ and/or 920″ (hereinafter “DLA-P”)include, but are not limited, to the following:

Water Treatment (reverse osmosis, distillation with automatic backwashfeature, and water softening equipment)

RENTAL: The DLA-P will be useful when packaged in combination with aDLA-9 or 12 (600),-C (200) or-G (800), or sold separately for thepurpose of an inexpensive but very effective water tight closure when arental water treatment unit of the nature of those described above isremoved from the site (Note-the cost of using an existing manufacturedthreaded cap will far exceed the cost of the DLA-P assembly by at leastthree times).

REPAIR: When one of the above mentioned systems is temporarily removedfrom installation for the purpose of on-site or off-site repair, itwould be both a health and safety precaution to effectively “plug off”the exposed drain line opening left by such removal, thereby insuringagainst the possibility of flooding and causing a very real threat ofwater damage to cabinetry, or expensive wood parquet or carpetedflooring, or filling the room with the odor of sewer gas (should thetrap water be lost for any reason), thereby avoiding the possibility ofbad smell and airborne pathogens, or the unlikely event of an explosiondue to the ignition of accumulated methane gas.

Plumbing (general)

REMODEL: The usefulness of a DLA-P in remodel applications, where longerterm conditions of open 1¼″-1½″-2″ trap adapters exist in a house wherethe plumbing system is otherwise kept in use during the remodel (as in akitchen or bathroom remodel) is consistent with all the points coveredabove (under “repair”) now will be evident, and would be a welcomealternative to expensive caps, or the more ineffective method ofstuffing the openings with a rag (which is the most commonly usedprocedure).

WATER TESTING: the three accepted methods of water testing Drain Wasteand Vent (DWV) remodel or new construction rough plumbing for leaks andcracks are: (1) water pressure (static/gravity-filled to theoverflow/flood rim which is usually the top of the vent above the roof);(2) smoke (forced); and (3) air pressure. Of these three, the mostcommonly used method of testing is with water pressure. The threemethods currently in use to retain the water during a test is by: (1)gluing in a thin plastic lid (this is not reusable and takes time tocure before a test can be performed); (2) forming a plaster plug whichalso takes time to set up, and like the glue-in plastic lid, must bebroken afterwards, removed and cleaned; and (3) a mechanical “test plug”which is inserted into a pipe end or sanitary Tee, then screwed into astate of expansion, thereby sealing off the water passage.

The advantage of using a DLA-P during a water test involving a remodelis that it will easily, inexpensively and effectively seal off the openend of any threaded trap arm, or in the case of new construction, a traparm can be installed into any sanitary Tee prior to the water test. Thiswill allow the plumbing contractor to “set trim” without waiting for arough plumbing inspection When the rough plumbing inspection isscheduled, the contractor can remove the trap, install the DLA-P,complete the water test, remove the DLA-P and re-install the trap, thenobtain a finish plumbing inspection all in the same day while theinspector is still on site. The DLA-P web upper surface can also bereadily imprinted with a highly visible warning and reminder label, suchas “TEMPORARY PLUG”.

It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing description anddrawings describe and illustrate in detail various preferred embodimentsof the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates the present disclosure will suggest manymodifications and constructions as well as widely differing embodimentsand applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. The present invention, therefore is intended to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims and the applicableprior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste water drain adapter coupling for use inconnecting a water-using appliance waste water flexible conduct drainline in parallel downstream flow with an outlet drain of an in-countersink for thereby draining waste water from the water-using appliance inbypass flow relation with a sink drain trap plumbed to an associatedsewer system, said coupling comprising a rigid hollow tubular modifiedslip joint (S/J) branch Tee fitting having first and second normallyopen tubular branch inlet portions arranged with their respective flowaxes generally at an acute angle to one another and feeding at adownstream intersection therebetween to a common passageway forvertically receiving the incoming flows from said branch inlet portions,said branch Tee fitting having a tubular S/J slip conduit portiondefining said common vertical passageway and forming a common outlet ofsaid branch Tee fitting downstream of said intersection, said firstbranch inlet portion having connector means permanently mounted thereonat the inlet thereof exteriorly of said and adapted for slip jointtelescopically receiving the outlet end of the appliance waste waterflexible conduit drain line to be thereby coupled in drainage flowcommunication via said slip conduit portion to the drain trap, saidsecond branch inlet portion having an S/J coupling means thereon adaptedto be removably operably coupled to outlet drain, said second branchinlet having an integral junction with the upstream end of said slipconduit portion and being generally of the same diameter as the slipconduit portion and extending coaxially therewith said first branchinlet portion comprising a generally tubular conduit of smaller diameterthan said second branch inlet and slip conduit portions and protrudingexternally from said branch inlet at said junction, said tubular conduithaving a flow-through passageway oriented with its axis inclinedupwardly at about 60° included angle with the axis of said second branchinlet portion, said connector means having a flow through passagewayhaving a downstream outlet end of smaller diameter than the insidediameter of said tubular conduit for draining R/O waste water directlythere into without thereby damming up sediment.
 2. The coupling setforth in claim 1, wherein said first inlet branch portion is moldedintegrally with said second branch inlet and slip conduit portions. 3.The coupling set forth in claim 2 wherein said first branch inlettubular conduit inlet and at least the downstream portion of saidconnector means are integrally molded as a one piece unit.
 4. Thecoupling set forth in claim 1, wherein said first branch inlet, saidsecond branch inlet and slip conduit portions initially constitute apre-formed commercially available standard S/J branch Tee fitting, saidconnector means being separately formed and then sealably telescopicallyaffixed to the inlet of said first branch inlet portion tubular conduitand carrying drain line slip-on coupling means thereon.
 5. The couplingset forth in claim 4, wherein said connector means has a plug portioncontacting the interior surface of said tubular conduit and is affixedthereto by a fusion weld joint formed by ultrasonic or solvent weldingand/or by an adhesive bond, said flow-through passageway downstreamoutlet end opening in a downstream end face of said plug portion.
 6. Thecoupling set forth in claim 4, wherein said connector means has a sleeveportion diametrically sized for sealably slip-on telescoping over theoutside of said inlet of said tubular c onduit and being affixed theretoby a fusion weld formed by ultrasonic or solvent welding and/or by anadhesive bond.
 7. The coupling set forth in claim 6 wherein saidconnector means has a plug portion contacting the interior surface ofsaid tubular conduit and is affixed thereto by a fusion weld jointformed by ultrasonic or solvent welding and/or by an adhesive bond, saidflow-through passageway downstream outlet end opening in a downstreamend face of said plug portion.
 8. The coupling set forth in claim 1wherein said inlet of said tubular conduit and said connector means areone of those selected from the group consisting of: (a) JACO® typecompression nut, wedging sleeve means and cooperative male threadssurrounding said flow-through passageway, (b) JOHN GUEST® push-inslip-fit quick connect R/O tube coupling means, and (c) hose barb nipplemeans formed integrally externally on the inlet of said tubular and asleeve extension portion on said connector means for sealably slip-ontelescoping over said hose barb nipple means.